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
dynamited; dynamiting
dynamiter
noun
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
Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
The Nobel prizes were established in the will of wealthy businessman Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite.
—David Hodari, NBC News, 9 Oct. 2024
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
Shania Russell, EW.com, 16 Sep. 2024
In the end, dozens of members of the ironworkers union were convicted federally in dynamite plots.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for dynamite 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Annual prizes for achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace were established in the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite, who died in 1896.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
The Nobel prizes were established in the will of wealthy businessman Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite.
—David Hodari, NBC News, 9 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
Jess [Bromwell] and her team have come up with are dynamite.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 16 Sep. 2024
In the end, dozens of members of the ironworkers union were convicted federally in dynamite plots.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for dynamite
Dictionary Entries Near dynamite
Cite this Entry
“Dynamite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dynamite. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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