fulminate

American  

[fuhl-muh-neyt] / ˈfʌl məˌneɪt /

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.

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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 British  

/ ˈfʌlmɪˌneɪt, ˈfʊl- /

verb

1. to make criticisms or denunciations; rail

2. to explode with noise and violence

3. archaic (intr) to thunder and lighten

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noun

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

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of fulminate

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

Example Sentences

Mr. Lanthimos isn’t the type to thunder and fulminate and declare his themes, and the film doesn’t really align with any particular political outlook.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

You said it better with the Santa example, but I get redundant when I fulminate.

From Washington Post • Jun. 17, 2022

Hill says that watching Trump fulminate made her feel like Alice in Wonderland watching the Queen of Hearts, with her constant shouts of “Off with their heads!”

From New York Times • Oct. 1, 2021

“Amy would fulminate and care deeply about issues,” said one former mayoral aide.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2021

Thomas Shaw of Philadelphia first used fulminate in a steel cap in 1814, which he changed to a copper cap in 1816.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 6 "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad" by Various