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
Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
In 2015, Lunar New Year promotions for tech giant Tencent led to explosive growth for the company's now dominant messaging app WeChat.
—Eunice Yoon, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026
An art conservator who'd prefer to be immersed in detail work, Sarah is bombing as the host of a dinner party where her entrepreneur husband (Tom Riley) hopes to impress an obnoxious prospective investor (Tom Goodman-Hill) when a literal explosive goes off in her neighborhood.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Adjective
Albemarle revenue down but beats expectations Albemarle also raised its long-term global lithium demand forecast Thursday, citing an explosive growth in the stationary storage market.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
In 2015, Lunar New Year promotions for tech giant Tencent led to explosive growth for the company's now dominant messaging app WeChat.
—Eunice Yoon, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
Much like his father, the younger Trotter is known for his explosive downhill tackling and power.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026
An art conservator who'd prefer to be immersed in detail work, Sarah is bombing as the host of a dinner party where her entrepreneur husband (Tom Riley) hopes to impress an obnoxious prospective investor (Tom Goodman-Hill) when a literal explosive goes off in her neighborhood.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explosive
Adjective
-
The employee, a mother of two teen girls, warned about the filters and said the pressure on teen girls is intense.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Lastly, some members of the mainstream media’s reports on the violent anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis have been draped in gross mischaracterizations and gaping omissions.—
Michael Zais,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The president’s recent announcement of progress has been somewhat overshadowed by violent crimes making headlines daily.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Just hours after bombs began raining down on Oahu, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, two FBI agents arrived unannounced at Nikki Nojima Louis’ home in Seattle’s Japantown.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The contract covers both complete bombs in the All-Up-Round configuration and individual tail kits.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Members provide intensive mentoring, conflict mediation, case management, and connections to job training and mental health services to people at the highest risk of being involved in gun violence.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But, for those looking for a slightly less intensive experience, the semi-serious murder party—which tends to take place, and to wrap up, during one dinner—has come roaring back in popularity.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This time, the soloist was the stellar emerging pianist Yunchan Lim, who keeps to himself, either lost in dreamy reverie or, like a jumpy teenager, in ferocious attack mode.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Fullerton's ferocious winds toppled trees onto homes, cars and trucks, jolting neighbors awake early Wednesday morning.—
Michele Gile,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Potential payloads include lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes, electronic warfare equipment, acoustic decoys designed to mimic other vessels, and deployable sensor packages for intelligence collection.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
-
But Kaibab is a torpedo, launching from the South Rim and chasing a ridge down and out across the canyon.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Some of the fiercest storms in the South were reported near Lake Charles, Louisiana, where high winds from a thunderstorm overturned a horse trailer and a Mardi Gras float, damaged an airport jet bridge and flung the metal awning from a house into power lines.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
-
There’s Manny, Zitzs and EZ, who has a way with the girls; Izzy, an abused boy who hides his family’s secrets, and Gloria, as good at sports as the boys and so fierce nobody teases her little sister about her stutter.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Right next to that is a showcase for Rubin’s frenetic playing in the form of a furious pattern over slashing guitars.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Two other high-ranking music executives from outside the company, who also spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity to maintain relationships there, said talent and agents at Wasserman Music are furious, and planning exits if Wasserman stays much longer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explosive. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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