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
Manny Navarro, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
The top secret agent of CONTROL is a role model for clumsy wannabe Steve Carell, though by the end, Agent 23 is the one throwing an explosive situation into total KAOS.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Police were told Williams had made threats of having explosives and firearms in his vehicle, which was parked in the parking lot, and the Kansas City Police Department’s Bomb Squad was called in to investigate, law enforcement said.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
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Adjective
Midway through the fourth quarter, a Florida State offense that was among the country’s most explosive had thrown more interceptions (two) than completions of more than 20 yards (one).
—Manny Navarro, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
The top secret agent of CONTROL is a role model for clumsy wannabe Steve Carell, though by the end, Agent 23 is the one throwing an explosive situation into total KAOS.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
That’s a small explosive for us.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Police were told Williams had made threats of having explosives and firearms in his vehicle, which was parked in the parking lot, and the Kansas City Police Department’s Bomb Squad was called in to investigate, law enforcement said.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 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 Oct. 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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