explosive
1 of 2adjective
ex·plo·sive ik-ˈsplō-siv 
-ziv
1
a
: relating to, characterized by, or operated by explosion
an explosive hatch
b
: resulting from or as if from an explosion
explosive population growth
2
a
: tending to explode
an explosive person
b
: likely to erupt in or produce hostile reaction or violence
an explosive situation
explosively adverb
explosiveness noun
explosive
2 of 2noun
1
: an explosive substance
2
: a consonant characterized by explosion in its articulation when it occurs in certain environments : stop
Synonyms
Adjective
- acute
- almighty
- blistering
- deep
- dreadful
- excruciating
- exquisite
- fearful
- fearsome
- ferocious
- fierce
- frightful
- furious
- ghastly
- hard
- heavy
- heavy-duty
- hellacious
- intense
- intensive
- keen
- profound
- terrible
- vehement
- vicious
- violent
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective He has an explosive temper. there's been an explosive interest in the sport since the Olympics
Recent Examples on the Web
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2022 Indeed, law enforcement leaders in coastal Alabama and beyond are grappling with a drug that has seen explosive growth in recent years. al, 12 Sep. 2022 Emmy nods largely favored shows from big-spending streaming services like Netflix, among the drivers of TV's explosive growth, alongside relatively old-guard premium cable channels including HBO and Showtime. Lynn Elber, ajc, 9 Sep. 2022 But the explosive growth put more pressure to recruit new students, ease admissions standards and raise revenue, including from government contracts, The Times has reported. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 All this has been augmented by the explosive growth in knowledge of exoplanets, which, after the first discoveries in the early 1990s, now fill astronomers’ catalogs by the thousands. Lee Billings, Scientific American, 6 Sep. 2022 The explosive growth of online retail has made the company and its drivers more crucial than ever to the nation's struggling supply chain. Chris Isidore, CNN, 5 Sep. 2022 Moreover, explosive American growth in the past decade has been common among foreign candy brands. Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 31 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, Sony criticizes Triller for trumpeting its explosive growth and acquisitions of platforms including Julius and Fangage while leaving millions unpaid. Ashley Cullins, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2022 Sadie Gurman, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Washington State police are searching for a suspect who allegedly placed an explosive in a funeral-goer's car, causing the vehicle to blow up. Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2022 There is evidence that Croft, Fox and undercover operatives took a night ride to northern Michigan to check Whitmer’s second home and discuss putting an explosive under a bridge. Ed White, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2022 Silver fulminate is an incredibly reactive explosive. Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 30 June 2022 That included briefly descending to the surface a couple of times to pick up samples of dirt from the asteroid and even using an explosive to blast a new crater in its surface. New York Times, 9 June 2022 The men were arrested in October 2020 amid talk of raising $4,000 for an explosive that could blow up a bridge and stymie police responding to a kidnapping, according to trial evidence. Arkansas Online, 2 Apr. 2022 The device was dismantled with a police explosive and was determined to be fake. Cady Stanton, USA TODAY, 22 Aug. 2022 Langhorne started communicating in early 2019 with an undercover FBI agent who was posing as a member of ISIS and shared his plans for creating a video about making a deadly explosive called triacetone triperoxide (TATP). Paul Best, Fox News, 11 July 2022 See More
Adjective
The decline in biotech investments this year comes as the U.S. tech sector in general has entered a slide after a decade of explosive growth. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2022 Indeed, law enforcement leaders in coastal Alabama and beyond are grappling with a drug that has seen explosive growth in recent years. al, 12 Sep. 2022 Emmy nods largely favored shows from big-spending streaming services like Netflix, among the drivers of TV's explosive growth, alongside relatively old-guard premium cable channels including HBO and Showtime. Lynn Elber, ajc, 9 Sep. 2022 But the explosive growth put more pressure to recruit new students, ease admissions standards and raise revenue, including from government contracts, The Times has reported. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 All this has been augmented by the explosive growth in knowledge of exoplanets, which, after the first discoveries in the early 1990s, now fill astronomers’ catalogs by the thousands. Lee Billings, Scientific American, 6 Sep. 2022 The explosive growth of online retail has made the company and its drivers more crucial than ever to the nation's struggling supply chain. Chris Isidore, CNN, 5 Sep. 2022 Moreover, explosive American growth in the past decade has been common among foreign candy brands. Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 31 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, Sony criticizes Triller for trumpeting its explosive growth and acquisitions of platforms including Julius and Fangage while leaving millions unpaid. Ashley Cullins, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2022 Noun
The note threatened to send an explosive to one of the university’s labs, one of the officials said. Sadie Gurman, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Washington State police are searching for a suspect who allegedly placed an explosive in a funeral-goer's car, causing the vehicle to blow up. Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2022 There is evidence that Croft, Fox and undercover operatives took a night ride to northern Michigan to check Whitmer’s second home and discuss putting an explosive under a bridge. Ed White, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2022 Silver fulminate is an incredibly reactive explosive. Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 30 June 2022 That included briefly descending to the surface a couple of times to pick up samples of dirt from the asteroid and even using an explosive to blast a new crater in its surface. New York Times, 9 June 2022 The men were arrested in October 2020 amid talk of raising $4,000 for an explosive that could blow up a bridge and stymie police responding to a kidnapping, according to trial evidence. Arkansas Online, 2 Apr. 2022 The device was dismantled with a police explosive and was determined to be fake. Cady Stanton, USA TODAY, 22 Aug. 2022 Langhorne started communicating in early 2019 with an undercover FBI agent who was posing as a member of ISIS and shared his plans for creating a video about making a deadly explosive called triacetone triperoxide (TATP). Paul Best, Fox News, 11 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
1773, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Phrases Containing explosive
Kids Definition
explosive 1 of 2
adjective
ex·plo·sive ik-ˈsplō-siv
-ziv
1
: able to cause explosion
the explosive power of gunpowder
2
: tending to show anger easily : likely to explode
an explosive temper
explosive
2 of 2noun
: a substance that is used to cause an explosion
explosive 1 of 2
adjective
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
- intense
- intensive
- ferocious
- fierce
- violent
- deep
- heavy
- terrible
- furious
- profound
- vicious
- acute
- blistering
- fearsome
- exquisite
- fearful
- vehement
- heightened
- dreadful
- excruciating
- ghastly
- frightful
- intensified
- almighty
- hellacious
- hard
- concentrated
- aggravated
- heavy-duty
- enhanced
- keen
- harsh
- accentuated
- severe
- exhaustive
- deepened
- magnified
- stressed
- emphasized
- thorough
- rigorous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- moderate
- soft
- weak
- feeble
- superficial
- shallow
- subdued
- qualified
- decreased
- toned (down)
- reduced
- moderated
- eased
- diminished
- lightened
- lessened
- alleviated
- abated
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
- violent
- ferocious
- turbulent
- fierce
- furious
- volcanic
- vicious
- rabid
- rough
- hot
- brutal
- volatile
- tumultuous
- aggressive
- convulsive
- tempestuous
- cyclonic
- paroxysmal
- destructive
- combustible
- savage
- stormy
- blood-and-guts
- knock-down, drag-out
- bang-bang
- hostile
- knock-down-and-drag-out
- contentious
- antagonistic
- frantic
- hammer-and-tongs
- combative
- bellicose
- pugnacious
- belligerent
- frenzied
- barbarous
- mad
- assertive
- agitated
- cataclysmic
- ruinous
- truculent
- gladiatorial
- quarrelsome
- cataclysmal
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonviolent
- peaceful
- peaceable
- calm
- tranquil
- serene
- pacific
- unaggressive
- nonbelligerent
- halcyon
explosive
2 of 2noun
as in bomb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- bomb
- torpedo
- hazard
- snare
- claymore mine
- pitfall
- land mine
- ambush
- web
- trap
- net
- mine
- booby trap