French word

bombarder

Pronunciation

IPA/bɔ̃baʁde/

Meaning

  • verbbomb

Example

Ils ont bombardé ma boîte mail de publicités.

They bombarded my inbox with advertisements.

Illustration for bombarder (bomb)

More examples

Après la conférence, le public a bombardé le conférencier de questions.

After the conference, the audience bombarded the speaker with questions.

Core concept

One recipient is hit again and again until the repeated stream becomes overwhelming, physically or through communication.

Common phrases

  • bombarder quelqu'un de questions

    bombard someone with questions

  • bombarder une boîte mail de publicités

    bombard an inbox with advertisements

Similar words

inonder: Flood someone or a place with many things or much information at once.
saturer: Fill a person's or system's capacity until it is overloaded.
envahir: Enter and occupy a space in large numbers.
harceler: Repeatedly bother someone with unwanted contact or actions.

Definition in French

Lancer des bombes ou attaquer par projectiles; s'emploie aussi pour décrire l'action d'envoyer en masse des courriels, des messages ou des objets pour accabler quelqu'un.

Word origin

The verb was borrowed from Italian bombardare, formed from bombarda for a cannon and ultimately connected with Greek bombos, a deep booming sound.

Usage tips

  • Bombarder is stronger than simply envoyer in figurative use because it presents messages or objects as an oppressive barrage.

Other meanings

  • peltverb
  • showerverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word