: a smokeless powder composed of nitroglycerin, guncotton, and a petroleum substance usually gelatinized by addition of acetone and pressed into cords resembling brown twine
Examples of cordite in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Wydad’s ultras — a 2,000-strong block of red — set off so many flares that the game had to be paused due to the fog and stench of cordite filling the nostrils of those inside Lincoln Financial Field.
—
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Amid a whiff of cordite and the light of flares, shadows were everywhere.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
For the railgun, it's used to propel projectiles at tremendous speeds without the need for cordite or other explosives.
—New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2025
Young children were up on shoulders, their heads in the cordite clouds.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 15 Apr. 2024
The men hit the ground as the blast hit, the smell of cordite and dust going deep into their nostrils.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023
The San Diego native heard the guns, saw the muzzle flashes, smelled the cordite and hit the ground.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2023
Fierro could smell the cordite from the ammunition, saw the flashes and dove, pushing his friend down before falling backwards.
—Time, 22 Nov. 2022
Fierro could smell the cordite from the ammunition, saw the flashes and dove, pushing one of his friends down before falling backwards.
—Greg Norman, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2022
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Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Amid a whiff of cordite and the light of flares, shadows were everywhere.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
For the railgun, it's used to propel projectiles at tremendous speeds without the need for cordite or other explosives.
—New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2025
Young children were up on shoulders, their heads in the cordite clouds.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 15 Apr. 2024
The men hit the ground as the blast hit, the smell of cordite and dust going deep into their nostrils.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023
The San Diego native heard the guns, saw the muzzle flashes, smelled the cordite and hit the ground.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2023
Fierro could smell the cordite from the ammunition, saw the flashes and dove, pushing his friend down before falling backwards.
—Time, 22 Nov. 2022
Fierro could smell the cordite from the ammunition, saw the flashes and dove, pushing one of his friends down before falling backwards.
—Greg Norman, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Cordite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cordite. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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