fulminate

[fuhl-muh-neyt]

verb (used without object)

fulminated, fulminating 

1. to explode with a loud noise; detonate.

2. to issue denunciations or the like (usually followed byagainst ).

   The minister fulminated against legalized vice.

verb (used with object)

fulminated, fulminating 

1. to cause to explode.

2. to issue or pronounce with vehement denunciation, condemnation, or the like.

noun

1. one of a group of unstable, explosive compounds derived from fulminic acid, especially the mercury salt of fulminic acid, which is a powerful detonating agent.

fulminate

/ ˈfʌlmɪˌneɪt, ˈfʊl- /

verb

1. to make criticisms or denunciations; rail

2. to explode with noise and violence

3. archaic,  (intr) to thunder and lighten

noun

1. any salt or ester of fulminic acid, esp the mercury salt, which is used as a detonator

Other Word Forms

• fulminator noun
• fulmination noun
• fulminatory adjective
• nonfulminating adjective
• unfulminated adjective
• unfulminating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fulminate¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English fulminaten < Latin fulminātus, past participle of fulmināre “to hurl thunderbolts, thunder,” equivalent to fulmin-, stem of fulmen “thunderbolt, lightning” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of fulminate¹

C15: from Medieval Latin fulmināre ; see _fulminant

Example Sentences

“It takes people who are wealthy in New York to maintain the museums, maintain the hospitals,” John Catsimatidis, a billionaire real estate and supermarket tycoon, fulminated on Fox News.

From Los Angeles Times

The comments came as Trump loyalists have been fulminating against each other online for days over the H-1B visas.

From Los Angeles Times

He fulminates hatred — a strong psychological addiction —- so his base won’t notice how he’s enriching his wealthy donors at their expense.

From Salon

For two years, the state quietly investigated the matter while Villanueva fulminated about it at seemingly every opportunity.

From Los Angeles Times

Then, in late January, a local blogger fulminated after finding her signature among 16,000 names on a two-year-old open letter that decried “apartheid” in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

From New York Times