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 Karyu found that even if there were much larger influxes of volcanic or surface dust on Venus, the particles would still not be able to interact with the atmosphere’s sulfur in the right way to form the haze. — Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026 Developer Pierre Delvaux incorporated local materials into the house, taking nine months to cut the volcanic rock from the Great Rift Valley used to clad the property. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2026 Monumental-scale projections examining profound questions of bodies, landscape, and existence encircle a centerpiece of sculptural Jeju volcanic rocks. — Vivienne Chow, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Thermophiles could, however, find a home on worlds slightly closer to their star than the traditional habitable zone or on highly volcanic worlds, so long as water is also present, which is not the case for Jupiter's volcanic moon Io. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 29 Sep. 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
  • In recent years, right-wing figures and media outlets have advanced the narrative that transgender people and those who support them are violent or dangerous to society.
    — Lisa Hagen, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, the Boeing 737 Max 8 plunged thousands of feet after a violent confrontation erupted inside its cockpit.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • The vessel will navigate south through the narrow Strait of Malacca, round the turbulent waters of the Cape of Good Hope, and traverse the open expanse of the South Atlantic before dropping anchor off Bahia’s coast.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The unusual situation follows a turbulent stretch for CMS leadership.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • Pursuing Leamas and Doris are Josef Fiedler and Hans-Dieter Mundt, two Stasi operatives whose ferocious desire to shut down the intelligence leak is matched only by their internal rivalry and an iron will to outmatch each other.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Pursuing Leamas and Doris are Josef Fiedler (Brühl) and Hans-Dieter Mundt (Kammerer), two Stasi operatives whose ferocious desire to shut down the intelligence leak is matched only by their internal rivalry and an iron will to outmatch each other.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of ferocious
Adjective
  • Economists expect Beijing to lean harder on stimulus to stabilize corporate profitability, as consolidation accelerates in sectors already facing sluggish demand, fierce competition and cutthroat price wars.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
  • There has been fierce fighting on Yemen's Red Sea coast as government forces attempt to reverse recent Houthi advances.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • The shooting kicked off a blockbuster federal court case that fell apart only weeks later and led to a day of chaos in Brighton Park as federal agents deployed multiple rounds of chemical munitions against furious residents.
    — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Martinez was said to have been furious with officials responsible for executing Pike.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of furious
Adjective
  • Instead of striking the target with an explosive warhead, the laser transfers energy into the target’s surface.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In December 2024, Ellaboudy took sick leave from his employment because he was exposed to highly concentrated nitric acid, which is used to make explosive materials.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of explosive

Browse Nearby Words

volatility
volcanic
volcano
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Volcanic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volcanic. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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