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
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
Allison Duncan, WSJ, 29 July 2022
Go swimming in Copper Canyon where folks cannonball from the rocks, or spend a quiet day exploring the details of the shoreline.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 17 July 2021
David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
This group includes the moon jellies, sea nettles, cannonball jellies, and many others.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cannonball
Verb
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
Go swimming in Copper Canyon where folks cannonball from the rocks, or spend a quiet day exploring the details of the shoreline.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 17 July 2021
Noun
Kelly went next, frantically waving her arms before finishing in a cannonball.
—David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
This group includes the moon jellies, sea nettles, cannonball jellies, and many others.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cannonball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannonball
Verb
-
Erik Duran, 38, was found guilty in the August 2023 death of Eric Duprey, who was speeding away from undercover police along a sidewalk in the Bronx after allegedly being busted for selling them $20 worth of cocaine, trial testimony revealed, the New York Post reported.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen speeds down the course during the men's downhill race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, Italy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Earlier this month, Homeland Security officers blinded two protesters by shooting a less-lethal projectile at close range during a demonstration in Santa Ana.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The video also shows the projectile appearing to hit the mayor's SUV before quickly driving away, as smoke lingers on the rear end of the car.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Advocates like Aiello are now racing to secure measures to avoid catastrophe before the frontier is closed.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Their massive move also underscores how big donors are racing to back science-heavy, tech-centric projects such as peers like the Gates Foundation.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The base holds the Khorramshahr missile, which has a range of more than 1,250 miles and was launched towards Israel during the war last year.—
JON GAMBRELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The delegations gathered on Wednesday as Ukraine reeled from a major Russian drone and missile bombardment on Monday night, which Ukrainian officials said caused serious damage to the country's energy grid.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
From brushing ice in curling to flying down an ice track headfirst in skeleton, the Winter Olympics are home to some unique and exciting sports that feature uncommon vernacular.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Last November, the PLA Air Force released a video showing a GJ-11 flying alongside and linked with a J-20 stealth fighter.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Inspired by the Chinese creation myth of Pan Gu, each look positioned the cosmic egg as both protective shell and threshold between worlds.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Six eggs with broken shells got hit with Stop Sales.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The woman was rushed to a hospital but later succumbed to her injuries, according to police and the ski lift operator.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
2 Feb. 2026
-
While this market has those preconditions—a revolutionary technology and spectacular profit growth—the cycle has not yet reached the terminal phase where insiders rush for the exits.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Each system can fire for only about 30 seconds before running out of ammunition at its lower firing rate.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Russia even built an ammunition plant in Venezuela to produce cartridges for Kalashnikov rifles.—
Juan Pablo Spinetto,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cannonball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannonball. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
