ex·plo·sive
ik-ˈsplō-siv 
-ziv
1
a
: relating to, characterized by, or operated by explosion
an explosive hatch
b
: resulting from or as if from an explosion
explosive population growth
2
a
: tending to explode
an explosive person
b
: likely to erupt in or produce hostile reaction or violence
an explosive situation
explosively
adverb
explosiveness
noun
Examples of explosive in a Sentence
Adjective
He has an explosive temper.
there's been an explosive interest in the sport since the Olympics
Recent Examples on the Web
Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
During the explosive hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Kennedy refused to acknowledge more than 1 million Americans died from coronavirus, as is widely accepted in the public health community, and was reluctant to give COVID-19 vaccines credit in saving lives.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
In an effort to ensure gun saftey on set, the show used fake muzzle flashes on set without using blanks or explosives.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
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Adjective
Its most explosive event was Quantrill’s Raid in August 1863, when a group of Confederate guerrillas led by William Quantrill laid waste to Lawrence and killed upward of 200 people, some of them as young as 13 years old.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
During the explosive hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Kennedy refused to acknowledge more than 1 million Americans died from coronavirus, as is widely accepted in the public health community, and was reluctant to give COVID-19 vaccines credit in saving lives.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
Images from Kyiv show explosives struck a government building and at least one residential building.
—Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
In an effort to ensure gun saftey on set, the show used fake muzzle flashes on set without using blanks or explosives.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Cite this Entry
“Explosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explosive. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
explosive
1 of 2 adjective
ex·plo·sive
ik-ˈsplō-siv
-ziv
1
: able to cause explosion
the explosive power of gunpowder
2
: likely to explode
an explosive temper
explosively
adverb
explosiveness
noun
explosive
2 of 2 noun
: an explosive substance
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