fireball

noun

fire·​ball ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌbȯl How to pronounce fireball (audio)
Synonyms of fireballnext
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There was plenty of sword fighting, martial arts, explosions, fireballs and fireworks. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026 It isn’t known for producing fireballs, and Bill Cooke, lead of NASA’s Meteoroid Environments Office, said the meteors are going to be moderately fast and faint. Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026 This is where the most spectacular shooting stars and fireballs can appear. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2026 That impact and his trajectory launched his dragster up into the air, erupting in a fireball, breaking into pieces and getting badly tangled in the catch fencing. Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fireball

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fireball was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fireball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fireball. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

fireball

noun
fire·​ball -ˌbȯl How to pronounce fireball (audio)
1
: a ball of fire
2
: a very bright meteor
3
: the glowing cloud of vapor and dust created by a nuclear explosion

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