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
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
The explosive closing performance transitioned into the Tiesto remix of the song before a confetti blast, and Karol took a final bow with her dancers.
—Vanessa Diaz, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2026
Lauren Frayer, NPR, 12 Apr. 2026
Saturday’s explosives followed two straight nights that ended with walk-off home runs — a 12th-inning grand slam by Xander Bogaerts for a 7-3 victory on Thursday and Gavin Sheets’ three-run homer in the ninth inning for a 5-2 victory on Friday.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explosive
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Adjective
What starts as a series that aims to subvert the heist genre at every turn – amped with thrilling life-or-death stakes, family dynamics, and explosive action – gives birth to an exploration of what drives us, sustains us, and ultimately destroys us.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
The explosive closing performance transitioned into the Tiesto remix of the song before a confetti blast, and Karol took a final bow with her dancers.
—Vanessa Diaz, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
Israeli intelligence agents have described their decade-long plot to embed explosives in batteries in the devices, which were sold to Hezbollah by a fake company in Europe.
—Lauren Frayer, NPR, 12 Apr. 2026
Saturday’s explosives followed two straight nights that ended with walk-off home runs — a 12th-inning grand slam by Xander Bogaerts for a 7-3 victory on Thursday and Gavin Sheets’ three-run homer in the ninth inning for a 5-2 victory on Friday.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Cite this Entry
“Explosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explosive. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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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