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
New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025
Early airships including Hindenburg were often filled with hydrogen gas, which is the lightest gas but reactive and potentially explosive.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
Instead, explosives were used to seal the cave permanently, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
—Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
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Adjective
Hunter had previously worked on the Super High Altitude Research Project (SHARP), which was similar to Bull's HARP project, but used light-gas rather than explosive propellants.
—New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025
Early airships including Hindenburg were often filled with hydrogen gas, which is the lightest gas but reactive and potentially explosive.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
Noun
There are also glimpses of El using her psychic powers while her friends work to detonate some explosives.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
Instead, explosives were used to seal the cave permanently, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
—Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 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 26 Nov. 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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