can·non·ball
ˈka-nən-ˌbȯl 
1
: a usually round solid missile made for firing from a cannon
2
: a jump into water made with the arms holding the knees tight against the chest
3
: a hard flat tennis service
4
: an express train
cannonballed; cannonballing; cannonballs
: to travel with great speed
Synonyms
Verb
- barrel
- belt
- blast
- blaze
- blow
- bolt
- bomb [slang]
- bowl
- breeze
- bundle
- bustle
- buzz
- careen
- career
- chase
- course
- crack (on)
- dash
- drive
- fly
- hare
- hasten
- hie
- highball
- hotfoot (it)
- hump
- hurl
- hurry
- hurtle
- hustle
- jet
- jump
- motor
- nip
- pelt
- race
- ram
- rip
- rocket
- run
- rush
- rustle
- scoot
- scurry
- scuttle
- shoot
- speed
- step
- tear
- travel
- trot
- whirl
- whisk
- zip
- zoom
Examples of cannonball in a Sentence
Verb
a dune buggy came recklessly cannonballing down the crowded beach
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephen Smith, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024
But where No Hard Feelings dipped a toe into raunch, Joy Ride cannonballs straight in.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 6 July 2023
This version balances such jaw-dropping spectacles as an earthquake and a bloody cannonball attack with its story lines full of cultural clashes and multi-pronged political strategizing.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024
Somewhat inadvertently, The Ally, a new play by Itamar Moses opening at the Public Theater on February 27, cannonballs directly into the fray.
—Rhoda Feng, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2024
Back in the ring, a bull shoots out of the metal door like a cannonball, and the audience cheers.
—Toby Muse, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024
However, his beloved horse is struck by a cannonball and dies instantly.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 30 Jan. 2024
Other daredevils include trapeze artists, trampoline bouncers, aerialists, and even a human cannonball, Skyler Miser, who will launch herself out of a rocket at 65 mph for kicks and giggles.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024
Historical finds include bullets, cannonballs and even swords, CBS affiliate WLTX reports.
—CBS News, 14 Nov. 2023
Erinne Magee, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2023
Solmund Nystabakk, 40, who watched his son cannonball into the fjord by the Edvard Munch museum, said that the moment a wild animal appeared out of its natural habitat, people projected personality onto it.
—New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022
For anyone who’s so constrained but still longing to sip a cocktail while soaking on a pool step or to cannonball in after a long day, these little dippers can appeal.
—Allison Duncan, WSJ, 29 July 2022
Go swimming in Copper Canyon where folks cannonball from the rocks, or spend a quiet day exploring the details of the shoreline.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 17 July 2021
Excitement is important and the Volvo XC40 is like the guy at the party who showed up just to cannonball into the pool from the roof.
—Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 9 May 2021
Over the weekend, David, Victoria, and their kids joined Elton John and David Furnish on a yacht trip in the South of France for an Instagram-worthy day of bonding, sunbathing, and cannonballing into the sea.
—Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, 26 Aug. 2019
In February 2017, Ford cannonballed into the market, investing $1 billion self-driving startup Argo.
—Alex Davies, WIRED, 31 May 2018
In what can be considered typical Harbaugh fashion at this point, the Wolverines coach went ahead and cannonballed into the poll wearing his trademark khakis and polo.
—Chris Kwiecinski, ajc, 30 Sep. 2017
Noun
Image showing concreted cannonballs on the seafloor.
—Stephen Smith, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024
But where No Hard Feelings dipped a toe into raunch, Joy Ride cannonballs straight in.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 6 July 2023
This version balances such jaw-dropping spectacles as an earthquake and a bloody cannonball attack with its story lines full of cultural clashes and multi-pronged political strategizing.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024
Somewhat inadvertently, The Ally, a new play by Itamar Moses opening at the Public Theater on February 27, cannonballs directly into the fray.
—Rhoda Feng, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2024
Back in the ring, a bull shoots out of the metal door like a cannonball, and the audience cheers.
—Toby Muse, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024
However, his beloved horse is struck by a cannonball and dies instantly.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 30 Jan. 2024
Other daredevils include trapeze artists, trampoline bouncers, aerialists, and even a human cannonball, Skyler Miser, who will launch herself out of a rocket at 65 mph for kicks and giggles.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024
Historical finds include bullets, cannonballs and even swords, CBS affiliate WLTX reports.
—CBS News, 14 Nov. 2023
Verb
Made from a nylon and elastane blend, there is enough comfort and support to cannonball into your favorite lake.
—Erinne Magee, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2023
Solmund Nystabakk, 40, who watched his son cannonball into the fjord by the Edvard Munch museum, said that the moment a wild animal appeared out of its natural habitat, people projected personality onto it.
—New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022
For anyone who’s so constrained but still longing to sip a cocktail while soaking on a pool step or to cannonball in after a long day, these little dippers can appeal.
—Allison Duncan, WSJ, 29 July 2022
Go swimming in Copper Canyon where folks cannonball from the rocks, or spend a quiet day exploring the details of the shoreline.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 17 July 2021
Excitement is important and the Volvo XC40 is like the guy at the party who showed up just to cannonball into the pool from the roof.
—Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 9 May 2021
Over the weekend, David, Victoria, and their kids joined Elton John and David Furnish on a yacht trip in the South of France for an Instagram-worthy day of bonding, sunbathing, and cannonballing into the sea.
—Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, 26 Aug. 2019
In February 2017, Ford cannonballed into the market, investing $1 billion self-driving startup Argo.
—Alex Davies, WIRED, 31 May 2018
In what can be considered typical Harbaugh fashion at this point, the Wolverines coach went ahead and cannonballed into the poll wearing his trademark khakis and polo.
—Chris Kwiecinski, ajc, 30 Sep. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cannonball.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near cannonball
Cite this Entry
“Cannonball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cannonball. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
cannonball
noun
can·non·ball
ˈkan-ən-ˌbȯl
: a usually round solid missile for firing from a cannon
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