volcanic

adjective

väl-ˈka-nik How to pronounce volcanic (audio)
Definition of volcanicnext
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity a man with a volcanic temper that could go off at any moment

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 volcanic Then our catamaran pulled away, the shoreline opened up into volcanic rock, pale limestone cliffs, and small churches perched high above the water. — Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 1 Nov. 2026 But a crisis—such as a military coup, another volcanic eruption of Mount Paektu, or an economic meltdown—can change those assumptions swiftly. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026 Soon, the highway cuts through miles of gray and white volcanic pumice and ash, creating a lunar-like landscape that manages to confuse the visual senses. — Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026 About 40 percent of this comes from natural sources such as swamp gas and volcanic emissions. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for volcanic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volcanic
  1. violent
  2. turbulent
  3. ferocious
  4. fierce
  5. furious
  6. explosive
Adjective
  • The scale-rich designs absorbed sudden, violent impacts without buckling, offered a massive range of tunable stiffness, and successfully cushioned delicate objects embedded deep inside them.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
  • At night, our tent offered a fragile haven from the elements, rocking back and forth like a ship in the violent winds that Werba had predicted.
    — John B. Snow, Outdoor Life, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • That incident came just a day after a 5-year-old girl was pulled into the ocean and drowned in turbulent waters while walking on Treasure Island Beach in Orange County with her mother and brother.
    — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Riner’s announcement comes at a particularly turbulent moment in France, just five months before a presidential election that has exposed deep divisions across the political spectrum.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • The rising, warming sea and ferocious winter storms have battered the road.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • One of the most celebrated objects from the India Museum is a mechanical wooden sculpture of a ferocious tiger gnawing at a British soldier’s throat.
    — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of ferocious
Adjective
  • But many others are unpopular and have faced fierce opposition.
    — Joe Heim, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The once-fierce rivalry, which accounted for five Stanley Cup titles from 1996-2002, has cooled significantly since Detroit moved to the Eastern Conference and the teams have not been competitive at the same time.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • The Democratic Socialists of America sparked furious outrage after tapping controversial Twitch star Hasan Piker to anchor their election night broadcast.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Exasperated and furious over their inaction, Heumann and a group of disability activists staged a sit-in at the San Francisco Health, Education and Welfare federal building on Apr 5, 1977.
    — Barry Levitt, Time, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of furious
Adjective
  • Across Lower East Side dives in the early 2000s, Brian Chase, Nick Zinner, and Karen O put on otherworldly rock shows that verged on performance art—a blaze of vodka-spitting, mic-fellating, IDGAF unruliness and explosive, clamorous tracks.
    — Megan Buerger, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026
  • No explosive devices were found in the earlier incidents, according to authorities in various countries.
    — Matteo Moschella, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of explosive

Browse Nearby Words

volatility
volcanic
volcano
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Cite this Entry

“Volcanic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volcanic. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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