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
Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2024
However, just because an explosive plume looks big doesn't mean that such an impact is inevitable.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
With immigration being signature issue for Trump over the past eight years, the former president has continued to employ explosive rhetoric in his campaign.
—USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
Coalition defense The attack Saturday from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon included some 350 drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and rockets, with about 60 tons of explosive materials, the Israel Defense Forces said.
—Shoshanna Solomon, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2024
Iran’s massive missile and drone attack on Israel, which began in the late hours of April 13, pushed the conflict between the two countries into a potentially explosive new phase.
—Tony Capaccio, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024
Today, debate about NPR’s political leanings after an explosive essay by a former editor was published in The Free Press.
—Ariel Shapiro, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2024
An explosive device was detonated outside the office of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall in Montgomery in the early morning of February 24, authorities said at the time.
—Steve Almasy, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Considered our solar system's largest explosive events, solar flares occur when magnetic energy associated with sunspots is released, creating intense bursts of radiation.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Bloomberg News, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
McBride played an explosives expert in the film and was given an earpiece to communicate with the set as his character was perched in a watchtower above the production.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
Authorities say two of the men had plans to use explosives and small arms fire in attacks on a police station and at a stadium in east Jerusalem.
—Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024
What Israel says: Last month, Israel said its forces found a tunnel underneath UNRWA’s main Gaza headquarters containing large quantities of weapons and explosives.
—Josh Lederman, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2024
The drone might range two miles with a pound of explosives.
—David Axe, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Editors’ Picks The attackers also set the building on fire using a combination of explosives and flammable liquid, Russian authorities said.
—Alina Lobzina, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
Russian news reports said that the assailants also used explosives, causing a massive blaze at the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow.
—NBC News, 23 Mar. 2024
Investigators were still working this week to evaluate all the evidence, including testing homemade explosives allegedly found in Hansen’s home.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
Adjective
But the explosive growth in wagering has also had a less savory effect that experts say threatens the integrity of professional sports: a surge in players breaking league rules and placing bets, sometimes on their own teams and personal performance.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2024
However, just because an explosive plume looks big doesn't mean that such an impact is inevitable.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
With immigration being signature issue for Trump over the past eight years, the former president has continued to employ explosive rhetoric in his campaign.
—USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
Coalition defense The attack Saturday from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon included some 350 drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and rockets, with about 60 tons of explosive materials, the Israel Defense Forces said.
—Shoshanna Solomon, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2024
Iran’s massive missile and drone attack on Israel, which began in the late hours of April 13, pushed the conflict between the two countries into a potentially explosive new phase.
—Tony Capaccio, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024
Today, debate about NPR’s political leanings after an explosive essay by a former editor was published in The Free Press.
—Ariel Shapiro, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2024
An explosive device was detonated outside the office of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall in Montgomery in the early morning of February 24, authorities said at the time.
—Steve Almasy, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Considered our solar system's largest explosive events, solar flares occur when magnetic energy associated with sunspots is released, creating intense bursts of radiation.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Noun
In that incident, a car filled with 70 kilograms (154 pounds) of explosives blew up next to his motorcade moving along the highway near the city of Nazran.
—Bloomberg News, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
McBride played an explosives expert in the film and was given an earpiece to communicate with the set as his character was perched in a watchtower above the production.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
Authorities say two of the men had plans to use explosives and small arms fire in attacks on a police station and at a stadium in east Jerusalem.
—Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024
What Israel says: Last month, Israel said its forces found a tunnel underneath UNRWA’s main Gaza headquarters containing large quantities of weapons and explosives.
—Josh Lederman, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2024
The drone might range two miles with a pound of explosives.
—David Axe, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Editors’ Picks The attackers also set the building on fire using a combination of explosives and flammable liquid, Russian authorities said.
—Alina Lobzina, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
Russian news reports said that the assailants also used explosives, causing a massive blaze at the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow.
—NBC News, 23 Mar. 2024
Investigators were still working this week to evaluate all the evidence, including testing homemade explosives allegedly found in Hansen’s home.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near explosive
Cite this Entry
“Explosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explosive. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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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