1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
there's been an explosive interest in the sport since the Olympics
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
one of the most explosive storms to hit that area of the coast in some time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of explosive
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
Their armaments included a variety of cannons, bombs made of explosive shells, and muskets.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Emerson Clarridge
updated March 13, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026
No details about the nature of the explosive was given.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Adjective
The grenade is powered by RDX, an explosive material used extensively by the US military for decades.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
Their armaments included a variety of cannons, bombs made of explosive shells, and muskets.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
Jurors found Song, Morris, the Sotos, Hill, Batten, Rueda and Evetts guilty of rioting, providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use and carry an explosive, and using and carrying explosives during a riot.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 13, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026
No details about the nature of the explosive was given.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explosive
Adjective
-
For the seventh year in a row, Walmart captured more money from Charlotte-area shoppers than any other grocery store, despite intense competition from local grocers like Harris Teeter and Food Lion.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Graves’ exit has sparked intense speculation about his potential successor to represent Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, which stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In 2023, a report from the Police Executive Research Forum, a national think tank on policing standards, called for police to put the brakes on car chases unless a violent crime has been committed and the suspect poses an imminent threat.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The enemy was large and violent.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
It was later identified, by an unnamed official to thel, as showing a bunker buster bomb attack on an ammunition depot in the city.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The attack, which reportedly used 2,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, marks a major escalation as the conflict in the region entered its second month.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Xcel Energy is proposing a new rate class for data centers that the company says is intended to ensure that the energy-intensive facilities pay their way instead of passing along the costs to residential and small-business customers.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In the tech industry, AI models promise to make coding far easier and less labor intensive.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Italy happens to be in similarly ferocious form, however, and has won seven of its last eight, albeit losing twice in as many encounters with qualifying group winner Norway last year.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Despite Iran’s remarkably ferocious response across the region – attacking neighbors like Oman who days earlier mediated between Tehran and Washington - weeks of intense airstrikes against its cities and military has not magically left it a hundred feet tall.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The author of Project Hail Mary is firing a photon torpedo at Paramount+’s Star Trek efforts.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Sediment samples near the torpedo compartment showed no evidence of plutonium leakage from the nuclear warheads, indicating titanium patches applied by Soviet and Russian expeditions in 1994 remain effective.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But Altman inspired fierce loyalty, too.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Christian villagers who stayed behind in southern Lebanon, ignoring Israel’s blanket evacuation warnings for the area, have increasingly hardened into enclaves surrounded by fierce clashes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The furious finish, in a game played in the midst of wind gusts that made 40 degrees feel much colder as afternoon turned to evening, came after the Padres lost an early lead and then got it back again.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Texas battled back to within one possession late, but Betts’ block sealed it for a team that has come too far and endured too much to be bothered by even the most furious of comeback attempts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explosive. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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