dynamite

1 of 3

noun

dy·​na·​mite ˈdī-nə-ˌmīt 

1

: an explosive that is made of nitroglycerin absorbed in a porous material and that often contains ammonium nitrate or cellulose nitrate

also : an explosive (such as a mixture of ammonium nitrate and nitrocellulose) that contains no nitroglycerin

2

: one that has a powerful effect

an actress who's dynamite at the box office

also : something that has great potential to cause trouble or conflict

an issue regarded as political dynamite

dynamitic

ˌdī-nə-ˈmi-tik 

adjective

dynamite

2 of 3

verb

dynamited; dynamiting

transitive verb

1

: to blow up with dynamite

2

: to cause the failure or destruction of

dynamiter noun

dynamite

3 of 3

adjective

: terrific, wonderful

a dynamite performance

Synonyms of dynamite

Adjective

• excellent
• terrific
• great
• superb
• awesome
• wonderful
• fantastic
• fabulous
• beautiful
• lovely
• prime
• stellar
• marvelous
• fine
• hot
• classic

Examples of dynamite in a Sentence

Noun

The death penalty is political dynamite.

Verb

They plan to dynamite the old building.

Adjective

They put on a dynamite performance.

a summer blockbuster that features some really dynamite special effects

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And bringing him and Bad Bunny together to tell the true story of Puerto Rico's roots is going to be like a flame finding the stick of dynamite that's been waiting for it. —Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026

The demolition Crews working on the bridge used dynamite for the blast. —Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2026

Verb

Wheatley mixes the constant sounds of gunfire and dynamite extremely loud in the mix, accentuating their impact by having bodies fly across rooms and ricochet off of walls after being blasted with ammunition the length and thickness of a soda can. —Katie Rife, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025

Sony has been here before in regards to dynamiting female moviegoers (Hollywood could make more movies for them), with previous hits like Little Women and Where the Crawdads Sing. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2025

Adjective

Drop hammers, trucks with vibrating baseplates, and dynamite blasts send seismic waves through the Earth’s subsurface to a grid of geophones. —Lauren Steele, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026

The power play’s been rough, but the Blackhawks’ penalty kill has been dynamite. —Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Greek dýnamis "power, strength" + -ite entry 1 — more at dynamic entry 1

Note: Though the principal figure in the development of dynamite, Alfred nobel, was Swedish, the earliest patent for the substance (May, 1867) was filed in the United Kingdom, so the word was effectively first introduced in English rather than in Swedish or German.

Verb

derivative of dynamite entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of dynamite entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1922, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dynamite

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

Kids Definition

dynamite

1 of 2 noun

dy·​na·​mite ˈdī-nə-ˌmīt 

: an explosive that is made chiefly of nitroglycerin absorbed in another substance

also : an explosive that contains no nitroglycerin

dynamite

2 of 2 verb

dynamited; dynamiting

: to blow up with dynamite

dynamiter noun