fireball

noun

fire·​ball ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌbȯl 

1

: a ball of fire

also : something resembling such a ball

… the primordial fireball associated with the beginning of the universe.

—Scientific American

2

: a brilliant meteor that may trail bright sparks

3

: the highly luminous cloud of vapor and dust created by a nuclear explosion

4

: a highly energetic person

Synonyms of fireball

• pistol
• dynamo

Examples of fireball in a Sentence

The house erupted into a fireball.

what this club needs is a fireball who will bring some sorely needed energy and enthusiasm

Recent Examples on the Web

Noah Centineo, Jason Momoa, Callina Liang, David Dastmalchian, and the rapper 50 Cent are just a few of the actors throwing or dodging fireballs in this apparent action comedy. — A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Fish saw a fireball coming their way, grabbed Ralat and ran inside. — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026

The problem is that Yan doesn’t always know how to locate that 100-mph fireball. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Several heavy explosions shook Kuhestak, with fireballs that lighted up the night sky, according to security camera recordings carried by the semiofficial news agency Fars. — David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fireball

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• cortisol
• ethanol
• gasohol
• gossypol
• guaiacol

Kids Definition

fireball

noun

fire·​ball -ˌbȯl 

1

: a ball of fire

2

: a very bright meteor

3

: the glowing cloud of vapor and dust created by a nuclear explosion