dynamite
UK: ˈdaɪ.nə.maɪt | US: ˈdaɪ.nə.maɪt
n. 1. A powerful explosive containing nitroglycerin, used in mining and construction.
n. 2. (Informal) Something or someone with great energy or impact.
vt. 1. To blow up or destroy with dynamite.
Coined in 1867 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite. The word combines Greek dynamis ("power") with a suffix -mite, likely chosen for its phonetic resemblance to existing explosive terms (e.g., "gunpowder" or "pyromite"). Nobel’s invention revolutionized controlled explosions, and the term later metaphorically extended to describe anything intensely impactful.
The miners used dynamite to clear the rocky terrain.
Her speech was pure dynamite, electrifying the audience.
The old building was dynamited to make way for a new highway.
Critics called the scandal political dynamite.
Handle that situation carefully—it’s emotional dynamite.