explosiveadjective
uk/ɪkˈspləʊ.sɪv/us/ɪkˈsploʊ.sɪv/explosive adjective (BURST)
C2 exploding or able to explode easily:
Certain gases are highly explosive.
An explosive device (= a bomb) was found at one of the capital's busiest stations this morning.
very loud and sudden, like an explosion:
There was an explosive clap of thunder overhead.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Exploding and erupting
- blast
- blow (sb/sth) up
- blowout
- burst
- burst in on sb/sth
- burst in/into (somewhere)
- detonate
- erupt
- explode
- explosion
- flare
- go
- go off
- go pop idiom
- go up
- ignite
- live
- pop
- set
- set sth off
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Not expected or planned
Noise & noisy
explosive adjective (EMOTION)
C2 An explosive situation or emotion is one in which strong feelings are loudly or violently expressed:
The situation in some of America's cities has become explosive.
Capital punishment is an explosive issue.
She has an explosive temper.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Strong feelings
- agony
- all-consuming
- anguish
- ardent
- be beside yourself idiom
- be convulsed with laughter, rage, etc. idiom
- beside
- fiery
- hormonal
- hot-blooded
- impassioned
- ineffable
- inexpressible
- profound
- safety valve
- siren call
- supercharged
- unquenchable
- vehement
- vehemently
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explosive adjective (INCREASE)
An explosive increase is very large and quick:
The last few years have seen an explosive increase in the number of homeless people on our streets.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Increasing and intensifying
- -ify
- a snowball effect idiom
- accretion
- accumulate
- accumulative
- add fuel to the fire idiom
- balloon
- bump
- dial
- growing
- heighten
- hot up
- increase
- pile
- rack
- scale sth up
- speed-up
- spurt
- step
- step sth up
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explosively
adverb uk/ɪkˈspləʊ.sɪv.li/us/ɪkˈsploʊ.sɪv.li/
explosiveness
noun [ U ] uk/ɪkˈspləʊ.sɪv.nəs/us/ɪkˈsploʊ.sɪv.nəs/
explosivenoun [ C or U ]
uk/ɪkˈspləʊ.sɪv//ɪkˈsploʊ.sɪv/C2 a substance or piece of equipment that can cause explosions
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Explosives in general
- cordite
- dynamite
- gelignite
- gunpowder
- high explosive
- megaton
- nitroglycerine
- plastic explosive
- Semtex
- shell
- TNT
- trinitrotoluene
- warhead