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💣 To make explode 😡 To protest strongly ⚡ To worsen suddenly 💥 An explosive salt
to fulminate

to fulminate

1 9.5
To become suddenly very severe, as a disease or symptom
  • verb
  • /ˈfʌlmɪneɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fulminar
  • After the storm, a fulminating outbreak of respiratory illness arose in the community.

Examples

  • In just a few hours, the fulminating symptoms of the disease became apparent, alarming the medical team.

  • The unintegrated elements activate the virulence of the fulminating powers that strike at each other throughout the drama.

    Academic text (1998)

  • One of the most dangerous medical crises we face today is the spread of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic organisms: lest we forget, as recently as the 1930s, fully 30% of us could expect to die of a fulminating bacterial infection.

    Blog text (16)

  • The doctor explained that the patient's condition could deteriorate rapidly due to a fulminating infection.

Synonyms

to break out
vsto fulminate
140 3.8

To start suddenly, often with something dangerous like a fire or disease

describes sudden intense onset of a symptom or illness
to erupt
vsto fulminate
123 4.2

To suddenly start in a strong or violent way, often showing strong feeling

applies specifically to sudden intense medical development rather than general events
to flare up
vsto fulminate
23 4.7

To become suddenly stronger or worse, often for a short time

means sudden intense first development rather than worsening of an existing problem
to burst forth
vsto fulminate
5 5.4

Suddenly start to happen with a lot of energy

is only about sudden intense development of a medical problem
to flame up
vsto fulminate
1 4.6

To suddenly start burning strongly or become much more intense

is limited to sudden medical onset, not mainly fire or literal burning

Antonyms

to stabilize
  • US
75 4.3

To become steady and stop changing

Phrasal Verbs

to fulminate against
  • Formal
1 9.9

Angrily criticize someone or something

Compounds

mercury fulminate
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A very sensitive explosive used in small caps to start larger explosions

fulminate of mercury
  • Specialized
9.9

A very sensitive explosive used in detonators and percussion caps

How Sudden

to fulminate
  • Specialized
1 9.5
to erupt
123 4.2
to break out
140 3.8
to appear
873 1.0
to develop
905 1.6

Surface Forms

fulminate infinitive
fulminated past
fulminated past participle
fulminating present participle
fulminates third person singular

Morphology

fulminate = fulmin + ate

The sudden/intense medical sense is a specialized or metaphorical usage and cannot be reliably derived by a typical learner from 'fulmin' + '-ate'.

Etymology

Fulminate comes from the Latin word fulmen 'lightning', giving the image of something that 'strikes' suddenly. That's why in medicine to fulminate means to appear or get worse very quickly and intensely.