1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
there's been an explosive interest in the sport since the Olympics
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
one of the most explosive storms to hit that area of the coast in some time
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Examples of explosive in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024
But this isn’t the only explosive development: In London, Grove is angry when Buckhurst shows up to meet him and not Hal.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Jackie Mader, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2024
Members of Agam Berger's unit informed their Israeli military bosses that Hamas appeared to be training with explosives and rehearsing attacks on a replica tank and mock observation post.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for explosive 
Adjective
Police also found 89 firearms, including handguns, submachine guns and AR-15-style rifles, as well as small explosive devices, large quantities of ammunition, silencers, high-capacity magazines, body armor and $500,000 in Canadian, equivalent to roughly $360,000 in US dollars.
—Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024
But this isn’t the only explosive development: In London, Grove is angry when Buckhurst shows up to meet him and not Hal.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
In 2011, a far-right extremist placed a van full of explosives in the government center, causing a blast that killed eight people and wounded more than 200.
—Jackie Mader, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2024
Members of Agam Berger's unit informed their Israeli military bosses that Hamas appeared to be training with explosives and rehearsing attacks on a replica tank and mock observation post.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for explosive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explosive
Adjective
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The vote came amid a moment of intense political debate about inflation.Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
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There are only two episodes until the Dancing With the Stars finale, and the competition is more intense than ever after nearly every couple earned a 10 last week.Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Expect more videos aimed at further upsetting supporters of a losing candidate and designed to incite violent protests, officials have said.Sam Sabin, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
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Domestic violent extremists have increasingly shared tactics with each other on using guns to attack electric power stations in a move that likely escalates the threat to US critical infrastructure, according to a Department of Homeland Security bulletin obtained last year by CNN.Karina Tsui, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Before the eruption, which lasted for more than 24 hours and had the power of thousands of nuclear bombs, Mount Vesuvius had been mostly dormant for centuries.Hannah Peart, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
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Over the past week, the Russian Federation has launched a significant assault on Ukraine, deploying 900 glide bombs, 500 Shahed drones, and 30 missiles.Katya Soldak, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Tester feedback: Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein says this finishing spray is a staple in her routine for its weightless feel and intensive oil control.Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 4 Nov. 2024
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Beyond traditional panels, the conference offers intensive masterclasses in authentic storytelling and a hands-on hackathon where participants tackle real-world DEI challenges.Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Characteristically, once she was married, Stewart tackled every ambition with ferocious discipline and took each failure as a personal crisis.Constance Grady, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
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Lebanon’s health sector has been in the thick of a ferocious Israeli air assault as Israel and Hezbollah trade fire in an ongoing war, with the country’s south and Beirut’s southern suburbs hardest hit.Allegra Goodwin and Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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This is a function of the inherent difficulty of defending against incoming ballistic missiles traveling at several times the speed of sound, not to mention dealing with stealthy cruise missiles and underwater torpedoes.Elbridge Colby, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2018
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One of the Northern Fleet’s submarines had sunk, in 1989, and hadn’t been salvaged; its reactor lay at the bottom of the Norwegian Sea, along with two torpedoes with nuclear warheads, corroding in salt water.Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Competition is fierce:Phoenix progressives want their City Council seat back Who is running for Phoenix District 5? Maryvale-area residents will choose between incumbent Councilwoman Betty Guardado and challenger JJ Martinez in District 5.Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
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The Cardinals looked like a fierce unit, though, and that’s what the Bears have done way too much — make pedestrian defenses without key difference-makers look legitimate.Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Camille was the very smart widow who led the company through the turbulent 1930’s, and insured its success into the future.Liz Thach, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
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Then came the two-week journey down the turbulent Yukon River to Dawson, for which travelers had to build their own boats.Melanie Haiken, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near explosive
Cite this Entry
“Explosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explosive. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
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