: a high explosive composed of various chemicals that make it moldable and plastic
Before it was detonated, I held a piece of C-4 plastic explosive about the size of a baseball. It felt slightly greasy and granular, but otherwise indistinguishable from my daughter's Play-Doh.—
Eric Schlosser
Eric SchlosserExamples of C-4 in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to court documents, the Ford plant’s safety and risk management team received a call about 5:20 p.m. on July 18, 2023, from an unknown man claiming to be armed with an AK-47 rifle with three magazines, a handgun and one pound of C-4 explosives strapped to his chest.
—Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2025
The products range from bulk explosives to landmines and small breaching charges, including C-4.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Vitello is a stick of C-4 to convention.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Philippi, by September, had conducted reconnaissance for a specific substation and had ordered C-4, other explosives and black powder, the DOJ said.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Rutherford alleged that Butler was selling large amounts of marijuana, prescription painkillers and steroids, as well as C-4 plastic explosive.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 22 July 2025
Inside was a 9-volt battery connected by wires to a small liquid detonator switch attached to a block (inert) of C-4 explosive.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
While on the way, Philippi allegedly ordered C-4 and other explosives from the undercover employees, then later purchased black powder to put into pipe bombs.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 4 Nov. 2024
But the coolest new feature is the ability to carry and drop off small payloads, such as a brick of C-4 (to detonate other explosives, presumably).
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 Oct. 2012
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2025
The products range from bulk explosives to landmines and small breaching charges, including C-4.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Vitello is a stick of C-4 to convention.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Philippi, by September, had conducted reconnaissance for a specific substation and had ordered C-4, other explosives and black powder, the DOJ said.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Rutherford alleged that Butler was selling large amounts of marijuana, prescription painkillers and steroids, as well as C-4 plastic explosive.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 22 July 2025
Inside was a 9-volt battery connected by wires to a small liquid detonator switch attached to a block (inert) of C-4 explosive.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
While on the way, Philippi allegedly ordered C-4 and other explosives from the undercover employees, then later purchased black powder to put into pipe bombs.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 4 Nov. 2024
But the coolest new feature is the ability to carry and drop off small payloads, such as a brick of C-4 (to detonate other explosives, presumably).
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 Oct. 2012
Cite this Entry
“C-4.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/C-4. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share