1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

cannonball 1 of 2

verb

Definition of cannonballnext
as in to speed
to proceed or move quickly a dune buggy came recklessly cannonballing down the crowded beach

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cannonball

2 of 2

noun

as in projectile

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of cannonball
Verb
Solmund Nystabakk, 40, who watched his son cannonball into the fjord by the Edvard Munch museum, said that the moment a wild animal appeared out of its natural habitat, people projected personality onto it. — New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 For anyone who’s so constrained but still longing to sip a cocktail while soaking on a pool step or to cannonball in after a long day, these little dippers can appeal. — Allison Duncan, WSJ, 29 July 2022
Noun
Researchers were surprised to find the second cannonball, Lindley told Fox News Digital. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 Battle relic found An iron cannonball that may have played a role in the 1836 Battle of the Alamo was unearthed in Texas this month. — Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cannonball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannonball
  1. speed
  2. projectile
  3. race
  4. missile
  5. fly
  6. shell
  7. rush
  8. ammunition
Verb
  • Lenexa police are investigating a fatal crash involving a woman who left a medical facility and sped away from officers who were checking on her, a police spokesperson said.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The Democratic Republic of Congo sought to speed up the implementation of a strategic mining partnership with the US, which is looking to rival China’s influence in Africa.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of speed
Noun
  • The Saudi civil defense overnight said a projectile fell in a different area near the border with Yemen along the Red Sea, injuring two people and damaging a mosque and several other buildings.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • During one part of his history, Angel was maimed and his wings were replaced by metal projectile-shooting wings by the villain Apocalpyse.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of projectile
Verb
  • Tech companies are racing to develop and train elder care robots to handle tasks ranging from giving massages to playing chess.
    — HUIYEE CHIEW AND LYRIC LI THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
  • As the rapid development of artificial intelligence sparks renewed debate about its risks, the United States and China keep racing to build increasingly powerful models.
    — Chan Ho-Him, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of race
Noun
  • More than half of the cost has come from replacing missiles and other munitions used during the conflict.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
  • In July, a YFQ-44A fired an AIM-120 air-to-air missile at a digital target during a live-fire test.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of missile
Verb
  • Trump said on social media alongside a photo of former President Dwight Eisenhower, who was the first president to fly in a helicopter.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2026
  • At about midnight, the mayflies stopped flying and the fish disappeared.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of fly
Noun
  • According to a criminal complaint, Young used shell corporations and fraudulent billing practices to misappropriate funds intended for homeless housing, including through programs administered by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • On the apparel front, a Ballistic Tech Vest harkens back to ’90s utility gear, while Gore-Tex rears its head again on a circa-2000 Mountain Jacket with seam seals and another shell that reaches full length.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of shell
Verb
  • The Bears ranked 27th last season in defensive rushing success and 29th in opponents’ yards before contact.
    — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The 6-foot, 222-pound junior found the end zone twice and rushed for 266 yards against FSU, the most in the long-standing series, for a bright spot to cap an otherwise dismal 2025.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of rush
Noun
  • And Caxon’s resignation is being used as a catch-all piece of ammunition for anyone who has anything against AI.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • But police discovered the handgun and 12 rounds of ammunition hidden under the driver's seat.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of ammunition

Browse Nearby Words

cannonading
cannonball
cannonballed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cannonball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannonball. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All