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
Synonyms
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
Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023
Williams, the No. 2 receiver behind Allen and an explosive threat on a team with few explosive threats, was injured on third-quarter reception.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2023
India-Canada tensions explained What happened: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an explosive speech Monday, alleging the Indian government was involved in the assassination of a prominent Sikh leader who was fatally shot in June outside Vancouver.
—Evan Hill, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023
This year’s halftime show starring Rihanna, who revealed her baby bump during the explosive performance, is nominated for five Emmys.
—Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Sep. 2023
This week, Doja Cat shows a softer side on the fifth single off her new album, Kylie Minogue delivers explosive dance-pop, and Blink-182 get existential on their first track with guitarist Tom DeLonge in over a decade.
—Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2023
Through the air, Alabama had just one explosive play.
—Michael Casagrande | McAsagrande@al.com, al, 19 Sep. 2023
The explosive allegation came during a particularly rocky period of Indian-Canadian relations, partially sparked by accusations that the Indian government was behind the slaying.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2023
Long known for explosive growth and transforming the way the world shops, in the past year Amazon laid off more than 27,000 people, shuttered departments, and killed off some of its innovative but unprofitable experiments.
—Caroline O’Donovan, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
Alexander Cardia, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
Two explosives specialists armed with metal detectors can take over a month to clear a plot of Ukrainian farmland around half the size of a football field riddled with mortars, artillery shells and unexploded fuses.
—William Mauldin, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2023
Authorities later activated the Austin police bomb squad to look for possible explosives in the business.
—Tony Plohetski, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2023
In Rebels, Sabine was never a Force-user; her background was in blasters and explosives and other military technology.
—Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 23 Aug. 2023
Regarding one of those, Kirk D. Merricks was charged in 2013 with possession of explosives, but the charges were dropped, according to the Plymouth Superior Court clerk’s office.
—Sean Cotter, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023
Officials feared the explosives were intended for militants in the West Bank.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2023
In an excerpt viewed by CNN, Musk’s biographer Walter Isaacson writes that Ukrainian drones packed with explosives were headed toward a Russian naval fleet before the tech titan made the order.
—Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2023
Israeli officials fear the explosives were bound for Palestinian militants in the West Bank.
—Issam Adwan and Isabel Debre, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2023
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Adjective
The two-by-four-feet color photos, which imitate the content of men’s magazines — Sherman’s heroines are often lying down and look by turns pensive and vacant — were considered explosive explorations of how female identity is constructed and consumed.
—Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023
Williams, the No. 2 receiver behind Allen and an explosive threat on a team with few explosive threats, was injured on third-quarter reception.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2023
India-Canada tensions explained What happened: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an explosive speech Monday, alleging the Indian government was involved in the assassination of a prominent Sikh leader who was fatally shot in June outside Vancouver.
—Evan Hill, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023
This year’s halftime show starring Rihanna, who revealed her baby bump during the explosive performance, is nominated for five Emmys.
—Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Sep. 2023
This week, Doja Cat shows a softer side on the fifth single off her new album, Kylie Minogue delivers explosive dance-pop, and Blink-182 get existential on their first track with guitarist Tom DeLonge in over a decade.
—Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2023
Through the air, Alabama had just one explosive play.
—Michael Casagrande | McAsagrande@al.com, al, 19 Sep. 2023
The explosive allegation came during a particularly rocky period of Indian-Canadian relations, partially sparked by accusations that the Indian government was behind the slaying.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2023
Long known for explosive growth and transforming the way the world shops, in the past year Amazon laid off more than 27,000 people, shuttered departments, and killed off some of its innovative but unprofitable experiments.
—Caroline O’Donovan, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
Noun
The resulting crater and damage extending from the point of detonation is consistent with a missile coming from a northwesterly route, according to an explosives expert and a Times analysis.
—Alexander Cardia, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
Two explosives specialists armed with metal detectors can take over a month to clear a plot of Ukrainian farmland around half the size of a football field riddled with mortars, artillery shells and unexploded fuses.
—William Mauldin, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2023
Authorities later activated the Austin police bomb squad to look for possible explosives in the business.
—Tony Plohetski, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2023
In Rebels, Sabine was never a Force-user; her background was in blasters and explosives and other military technology.
—Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 23 Aug. 2023
Regarding one of those, Kirk D. Merricks was charged in 2013 with possession of explosives, but the charges were dropped, according to the Plymouth Superior Court clerk’s office.
—Sean Cotter, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023
Officials feared the explosives were intended for militants in the West Bank.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2023
In an excerpt viewed by CNN, Musk’s biographer Walter Isaacson writes that Ukrainian drones packed with explosives were headed toward a Russian naval fleet before the tech titan made the order.
—Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2023
Israeli officials fear the explosives were bound for Palestinian militants in the West Bank.
—Issam Adwan and Isabel Debre, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'explosive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing explosive
Dictionary Entries Near explosive
Cite this Entry
“Explosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explosive. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.
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Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on explosive
Nglish: Translation of explosive for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of explosive for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about explosive
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