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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of explosive
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
Stukes is a rangy, explosive, turnover-producing three-time team captain (under two different staffs).
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Michael Carrafiello, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
No details about the nature of the explosive have been released.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Adjective
Bethany takes the explosive event as a sign to reunite with her old girlfriend Nel (Lena Góra), and carouse across lofts, clubs, and back alleys, leaving her erstwhile partner stranded.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
Stukes is a rangy, explosive, turnover-producing three-time team captain (under two different staffs).
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
These create chemical reactions that produce the explosive thrust necessary to propel humans to the Moon.
—Michael Carrafiello, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
No details about the nature of the explosive have been released.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explosive
Adjective
-
No injuries were reported in the blaze and no structures were threatened, despite an extensive list of evacuation orders and warnings that were issued at the fire's most intense point.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Combining creatine with electrolytes may improve hydration and exercise performance, especially during intense or prolonged workouts.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
One of the only figures in Fuqua’s filmography who resembles Alonzo is Suge Knight, the real-life hip-hop executive known for his bullying—and sometimes violent—approach to business and life.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The violent attack marked a tragic and final chapter in Griffin’s downward spiral following his mother’s death in 2021.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This approach removes the need for bomb bays or underwing pylons.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The Kansas City Police Department’s bomb and arson unit is investigating the fire.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Residents returning to southern villages and Beirut suburbs find entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble, with buildings flattened and infrastructure destroyed by weeks of intensive strikes.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
One such system required only 90 million Toffoli gates, a resource-intensive operation that’s currently a prohibitively major challenge to deliver.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Having a husband who engaged with his kids with ferocious tenderness and playful delight was a gift.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
After some ferocious wildfire years, insurers faced massive losses.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The powder blue car was shaped like a torpedo, with Rolls-Royce’s unmistakable vertical grille, an open cockpit and a rear that tapered like a dove.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
This National Geographic documentary shows an orca striking a great white like a torpedo, stunning it, then taking it in its mouth.—
Michael H Gavshon,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Ganesh’s exit from the show was announced earlier this month, sparking a fierce wave of pushback from fans of the HBO show.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Apr. 2026
-
That sum would amount to more than 10 times what President Obama released to Iran under a 2015 nuclear deal, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, that was the subject of fierce Republican criticism in the decade since.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Fury Road headliner is furious with the actor, whose Oscar dreams were famously dashed last month.—
Séraphine Roger,
Vanity Fair,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The judge was furious, setting Baldwin free.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explosive. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
