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ballistic
01
related to the flight or motion of objects that are propelled or shot, especially bullets, missiles, or projectiles
Grammatical Information
Composition
Compound
relational
ungradable
Examples
The ballistic trajectory of the missile was carefully calculated before launch.
02
extremely angry or enraged
Slang
What does "ballistic" mean in anger slang?
The slang adjective "ballistic" means becoming extremely angry, furious, or out of control. The structure comes from "ballistics," related to missiles or explosive movement, used metaphorically to suggest someone "exploding" emotionally. It is typically used in phrases like "go ballistic," describing sudden, intense rage or an aggressive reaction. The term became common in American English informal speech and media during the late 20th century.
Examples
When he heard him lie about it, he went ballistic.
Lexical Tree
ballistic
ballist
