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
June 24, CBS News, 24 June 2025
Worried about explosives, law enforcement initially used a robot to check the car.
—Steve Karnowski, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025
Staff and Wire Reports, Boston Herald, 26 June 2025
In a move that could redefine their defensive identity for years to come, the New York Giants selected Abdul Carter with the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Carter, widely regarded as one of the most explosive defenders in college football, thrived at Penn State as a do-it-all weapon.
—Victor Williams, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Adjective
He was accused of shipping approximately 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate — commonly used as a precursor to construct homemade explosives — to the bomber, who was identified by officials as 25-year-old Guy Bartkus.
—June 24, CBS News, 24 June 2025
Worried about explosives, law enforcement initially used a robot to check the car.
—Steve Karnowski, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025
Noun
The 30,000-pound bomb is comprised of steel, explosive and a fuse programmed to a specific detonation time.
—Staff and Wire Reports, Boston Herald, 26 June 2025
In a move that could redefine their defensive identity for years to come, the New York Giants selected Abdul Carter with the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Carter, widely regarded as one of the most explosive defenders in college football, thrived at Penn State as a do-it-all weapon.
—Victor Williams, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explosive
Adjective
-
Moster has long been a target of intense scorn in the Orthodox world.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
24 June 2025
-
There were times when the twin drama got too intense.—
Maris Kreizman,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.- and Israel-backed group, has faced backlash over reports of violent and even deadly incidents around its secure sites.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
-
Dressed in a Versace shirt and gleaming gold chain, Shakur was still out on bond, still basking in the glow of stardom, brushing off a violent altercation with a Crip gang member inside a Sin City casino that had transpired just hours earlier after a Mike Tyson boxing match.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target and worked perfectly.—
Sonam Sheth
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
-
The attack — which Trump later said was coordinated beforehand with Qatar to minimize casualties — came in response to unprecedented U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last week, which were carried out with the largest non-nuclear bombs on earth.—
Natasha Turak,
CNBC,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Designed to withstand intensive training, Lacoste’s abrasion-resistant piqué fabric is made with Ultra Dry moisture-wicking technology for more breathable wear.—
Lauren Alexis Fisher,
Footwear News,
27 June 2025
-
Oftentimes, enrolling in an intensive language program qualifies someone for a student visa, depending on the requirements of that country (more on that later).—
Chloe Arrojado,
AFAR Media,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Manchester City striker is one of the global game’s most ferocious and intelligent goalscorers.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
-
Now, she’s added another competitive event to her list of favorites: F1, or Formula 1, largely considered the world's most ferocious and high-tech form of auto racing.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
More Stories The ideal for submarine commanders is a robot that doesn't need special handling and can be loaded aboard like a torpedo, then launched from a standard torpedo tube and recovered through the same tube after its mission has been completed.—
David Szondy
June 21,
New Atlas,
21 June 2025
-
In southwest London’s Royal Bushy Park, a Cold War-era torpedo testing site has been reimagined as a striking six-bedroom home.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Supreme Court cases that set off the fiercest conflicts among the justices aren’t always the hot-button ones.—
Dan McLaughlin,
National Review,
25 June 2025
-
And competition is fierce: Waymo has elite tech, Amazon’s Zoox is quietly advancing, and China’s Baidu is pushing fast in its home market.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Even Zelensky – who has had a turbulent relationship with Trump – came away with wins.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
25 June 2025
-
Reina, Fil-Am team center back, brings us on this turbulent journey, culminating in an intimate trip to her grandmother’s hometown in the Philippines.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explosive. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share