fulminate

1 of 3

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 3

noun (1)

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

fulmination

3 of 3

noun (2)

ful·​mi·​na·​tion ˌfu̇lməˈnāshən also ˌfəl- 

plural -s

1

: vehement menace or censure

uncowed by police fulmination

2

: something that is thundered forth

ecclesiastical fulminations

3

: the act or action of exploding

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 of fulminate

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

Some neighbors fulminated against the university, arguing that the extra events would bring more noise and traffic, and that the property tax-exempt institution would not pay its fair share. —Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026

Predictably, Khomeini fulminated about Carter’s visit. —Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 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 (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle French, pronouncement of an ecclesiastical sentence or censure, from Latin fulmination-, fulminatio lightning, from fulminatus (past participle of fulminare to lightning) + -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (1)

1824, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fulminate

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

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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