dynamite

1 of 3

noun

dy·​na·​mite ˈdī-nə-ˌmīt 

1

: an explosive that is made of nitroglycerin absorbed in a porous material and that often contains ammonium nitrate or cellulose nitrate

also : an explosive (such as a mixture of ammonium nitrate and nitrocellulose) that contains no nitroglycerin

2

: one that has a powerful effect

an actress who's dynamite at the box office

also : something that has great potential to cause trouble or conflict

an issue regarded as political dynamite

dynamitic

ˌdī-nə-ˈmi-tik 

adjective

dynamite

2 of 3

verb

dynamited; dynamiting

transitive verb

1

: to blow up with dynamite

2

: to cause the failure or destruction of

dynamiter noun

dynamite

3 of 3

adjective

: terrific, wonderful

a dynamite performance

Synonyms

Adjective

• A-OK
• A1
• awesome
• bang-up
• banner
• beautiful
• blue-chip
• blue-ribbon
• boffo
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• boss [slang]
• brag
• brave
• bully
• bumper
• capital
• choice
• classic
• cool [slang]
• corking
• crackerjack
• cracking
• dandy
• divine
• dope [slang]
• down [slang]
• excellent
• fab
• fabulous
• famous
• fantabulous [slang]
• fantastic
• fine
• first-class
• first-rate
• first-string
• five-star
• four-star
• frontline
• gangbusters
• gangbuster
• gilt-edged
• gilt-edge
• gone [slang]
• grand
• great
• groovy
• heavenly
• high-class
• hot
• hype [slang]
• immense
• jim-dandy
• keen
• lovely
• marvelous
• marvellous
• mean
• neat
• nifty
• noble
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• out-of-sight [slang]
• par excellence
• peachy
• peachy keen
• phat [slang]
• prime
• primo [slang]
• prize
• prizewinning
• quality
• radical [slang]
• righteous [slang]
• sensational
• slick
• splendid
• stellar
• sterling
• superb
• superior
• superlative
• supernal
• swell
• terrific
• tip-top
• top
• top-notch
• top-of-the-line
• top-shelf
• topflight
• topping [chiefly British]
• unsurpassed
• wizard [chiefly British]
• wonderful

Examples of dynamite in a Sentence

Noun

The death penalty is political dynamite.

Verb

They plan to dynamite the old building.

Adjective

They put on a dynamite performance.

a summer blockbuster that features some really dynamite special effects

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While by no means essential to understanding Deadpool & Wolverine, the films help contextualize Wolverine, and both X-Men and X2 are brilliant, filled with great characterizations, potent political metaphors, and dynamite action sequences. —Barry Levitt, Vulture, 25 July 2024

The dynamite inside was discovered when employees at the metal recycling plant were using a torch to salvage the box and unintentionally set it on fire, authorities said. —Louis Casiano, Fox News, 11 Oct. 2024

Verb

There were also schemes to dynamite President Kennedy’s car and to car- bomb President George H. W. Bush in Kuwait in 1993. —Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 16 July 2024

In a procedural ruling yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court dynamited more than a century of practice by letting Texas move forward with a law that effectively gives it immigration enforcement power, handing extremist Gov. Greg Abbott a victory that could have massive reverberations. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2024

Adjective

Survivor: Redemption Island The first three episodes were dynamite, but then the fuse blew out. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024

Nobel, an extremely wealthy Swedish chemist, engineer, innovator, and armaments manufacturer, owned 350 patents, the most famous of which was dynamite. —Eli Amdur, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Greek dýnamis "power, strength" + -ite entry 1 — more at dynamic entry 1

Note: Though the principal figure in the development of dynamite, Alfred nobel, was Swedish, the earliest patent for the substance (May, 1867) was filed in the United Kingdom, so the word was effectively first introduced in English rather than in Swedish or German.

Verb

derivative of dynamite entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of dynamite entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1922, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

dynamite

1 of 2 noun

dy·​na·​mite ˈdī-nə-ˌmīt 

: an explosive that is made chiefly of nitroglycerin absorbed in another substance

also : an explosive that contains no nitroglycerin

dynamite

2 of 2 verb

dynamited; dynamiting

: to blow up with dynamite

dynamiter noun