fulminate

1 of 2

verb

ful·​mi·​nate ˈfu̇l-mə-ˌnāt 

ˈfəl-

fulminated; fulminating

transitive verb

: to utter or send out with denunciation

fulminate a decree

intransitive verb

: to send forth censures or invectives

fulminating against government regulators

—Mark Singer

fulmination

ˌfu̇l-mə-ˈnā-shən 

ˌfəl-

noun

fulminate

2 of 2

noun

: an often explosive salt (such as mercury fulminate) containing the group −CNO

Did you know?

Lightning strikes more than once in the history of fulminate. The word comes from the Late Latin fulmināre, meaning “to strike down or confound (an opponent),” which in turn traces back to the Latin verb (same spelling) meaning “to strike” (used of lightning) or simply “to strike like lightning”; that word's source is the noun fulmen, meaning “lightning.” When fulminate was taken up by English speakers in the 15th century, it lost much of its ancestral thunder and was used largely as a technical term for the issuing of formal denunciations by church authorities. In time, its original lightning spark returned, and it’s now used when someone issues verbal “lightning strikes” in the midst of a brouhaha, tirade, or tweetstorm.

Synonyms

Verb

• huff
• rave

Examples of fulminate in a Sentence

Verb

She was fulminating about the dangers of smoking.

The editorial fulminated against the proposed tax increase.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Predictably, Khomeini fulminated about Carter’s visit. —Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025

As for fighting the Trump pressure campaign, even politicians as ambitious as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker are mostly left to file lawsuits — and fulminate. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2025

Noun

Silver fulminate is an incredibly reactive explosive. —Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 30 June 2022

According to salvage expert Curt Newport, who recovered Liberty Bell 7 in 1999, the detonator percussion caps that served as a triggering mechanism likely contained mercury fulminate. —Andy Saunders, Discover Magazine, 21 July 2021

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English fulminaten "to direct (condemnation at an offender)," borrowed from Late Latin fulminātus, past participle of fulmināre "to strike down, confound (an opponent)" (Medieval Latin, "to thunder [threats, denunciations]"), going back to Latin, "to strike (of lightning), strike like lightning," derivative of fulmin-, fulmen "lightning," from fulg- (base of fulgēre "to shine brightly, flash, lighten") + -min-, -men, resultative noun suffix — more at phlegm

Noun

borrowed from French, from fulmin-, in acide fulminant "acid from which fulminates are presumed to derive" + -ate -ate entry 1; fulminant present participle of fulminer "to launch a thunderbolt" — more at fulmine

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1824, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fulminate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

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Kids Definition

fulminate

verb

ful·​mi·​nate

ˈfu̇l-mə-ˌnāt,

ˈfəl-

fulminated; fulminating

: to utter loud or forceful complaints or strong or violent language

fulmination

ˌfu̇l-mə-ˈnā-shən

ˌfəl-

noun

fulminator

ˈfu̇l-mə-ˌnāt-ər

ˈfəl-

noun