pyrotechnic

1 of 2

adjective

py·​ro·​tech·​nic ˌpī-rə-ˈtek-nik How to pronounce pyrotechnic (audio)
variants or less commonly pyrotechnical
: of or relating to pyrotechnics
pyrotechnically adverb

pyrotechnic

2 of 2

noun

1
a
b
: any of various similar devices (as for igniting a rocket or producing an explosion)
2
: a combustible substance used in a firework

Did you know?

You've read about funeral pyres, and you may even have survived a pyromaniac ("insane fire-starting") stage in your youth, so you might have guessed that pyr means "fire" in Greek. Pyrotechnic refers literally to fireworks, but always seems to be used for something else—something just as exciting, explosive, dazzling, sparkling, or brilliant. The performances of sports stars and dancers are often described as pyrotechnic, and a critic may describe the pyrotechnics of a rock guitarist's licks or a film's camerawork. A pyrotechnic performance is always impressive, but the word occasionally suggests something more like "flashy" or "flamboyant".

Examples of pyrotechnic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
In the original series, Colt moonlighted as a bounty hunter, employing filmmaking tricks to capture his targets — a fun if contrived excuse for stunt driving and pyrotechnic sequences. Peter Debruge, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 The crowd packed into the field saw a mix of moments, with some running from angry fire-spitting bulls, like a pyrotechnic version of the running of the bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain. Fernanda Pesce and Alexis Triboulard, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2024 The company expanded its line of products to include rigging equipment, stunt flying suits, pyrotechnic devices, glass breakers and devices for industrial use before merging with Roger George Special Effects at the start of this year. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024 Disneyland's Maleficent dragon made headlines this past April after an apparent malfunction caused the 45-foot-tall structure to burst into flames mid-show, prompting Disney to temporarily suspend similar pyrotechnic effects at all of its parks around the world. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 23 Sep. 2023 In California, Disney’s cleaning crews, food service workers, pyrotechnic specialists and security staff are already unionized. Amy Taxin, Quartz, 13 Feb. 2024 Those unionized jobs include everything from retail and food service workers to security guards, hair and make-up artists and pyrotechnic workers. Chris Isidore, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024 His Esquire feature on hot rods, for instance, the piece that brought him to prominence, is more than just the first major showcase for his pyrotechnic prose or an informative and engaging look at youth car culture. Seyward Darby, Longreads, 9 Jan. 2024 Hell's Belles series (and her best yet), the book follows pyrotechnic genius Lady Imogen Loveless and Scotland Yard Inspector Tommy Peck. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 21 Aug. 2023
Noun
For any keyboard warriors still insisting that Lipa can’t dance, the singer put criticisms to bed with her athletic performance: hanging off a rotating cage and sliding across the floor against a dizzying backdrop of mirrors and pyrotechnics. 8. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024 These needed to be kept at a distance from exploding pyrotechnics and angled away from the blare of the stadium’s public-address system. Jody Rosen, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2023 There are lights, and pyrotechnics, and extravagance. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 13 Jan. 2024 In contrast, on the receiver side 'main' was used as a reference to a pyrotechnic that fires to release the parachute canister cover and deploy the drogue. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 6 Dec. 2023 The pyrotechnics come next, followed by plenty of strong black coffee and sugar—it’s guaranteed to stop you in your tracks. Saveur Editors, Saveur, 14 Feb. 2024 A couple who set off a pyrotechnic during a gender reveal party, sparking the deadly El Dorado Fire, has been sentenced following a plea deal. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2024 Age of Heroes promises nonstop action – with motorcycles, pyrotechnics, aerial work, and yes, even flying superheroes and villains, including Ferrando. Willie Clark, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 Meanwhile, Bey kept getting sinus infections due to the smoke and pyrotechnics of the show — which, nevertheless, went on. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 1 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pyrotechnic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French pyrotechnique, from Greek pyr fire + technē art — more at technical

First Known Use

Adjective

1629, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of pyrotechnic was in 1629

Dictionary Entries Near pyrotechnic

Cite this Entry

“Pyrotechnic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyrotechnic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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