What does 'fulminate' primarily mean?

The term 'fulminate' primarily means to explode verbally, often in the context of expressing strong, critical, or forceful opinions. It conveys a sense of fervor and intensity in the expression of anger or outrage, frequently used to describe someone who is vehemently denouncing something. This word is derived from the Latin 'fulminare', meaning "to discharge lightning," which metaphorically aligns with the idea of delivering a powerful and explosive verbal critique.

While the other options suggest different actions—praising, clarifying, or withdrawing—these do not capture the essence of what 'fulminate' conveys in terms of emotional intensity and verbal aggression. The clear and forceful nature of fulminating aligns perfectly with the act of verbally exploding, making this the correct interpretation of the word.