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Synonyms

combustible

American  
[kuhm-buhs-tuh-buhl] / kəmˈbʌs tə bəl /

adjective

  1. capable of catching fire and burning; inflammable; flammable.

    Gasoline vapor is highly combustible.

  2. easily excited.

    a high-strung, combustible nature.

noun

  1. a combustible substance.

    Trucks carrying combustibles will not be allowed to use this tunnel.
combustible British  
/ kəmˈbʌstəbəl /

adjective

  1. capable of igniting and burning

  2. easily annoyed; excitable

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a combustible substance

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • combustibility noun
  • combustibleness noun
  • combustibly adverb
  • uncombustible adjective

Etymology

Origin of combustible

From the Late Latin word combūstibilis, dating back to 1520–30. See combust, -ible

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

How can UCLA’s combustible coach possibly demand discipline, hold his players responsible, or blame them for failing to take accountability when, night after night, he’s the most unhinged person in the building?

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Homan defused a combustible situation by adjusting the style and substance of immigration enforcement.

From The Wall Street Journal

The calm that followed has been imposed rather than negotiated, leaving the situation highly combustible.

From BBC

“Like charcoal? The combustible or the art supply?”

From Literature

The volume decline in combustible cigarettes appears to be stabilizing.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.