explosive

American  

[ik-sploh-siv] / ɪkˈsploʊ sɪv /

adjective

1. tending or serving to explode.

   an explosive temper; Nitroglycerin is an explosive substance.

2. pertaining to or of the nature of an explosion.

   explosive violence.

3. likely to lead to violence or hostility.

   an explosive issue.

4. Phonetics. plosive.

---

noun

• explosives
  plural

1. an explosive agent or substance, as dynamite.

2. Phonetics. plosive.

explosive British  

/ ɪkˈspləʊsɪv /

adjective

1. of, involving, or characterized by an explosion or explosions

2. capable of exploding or tending to explode

3. potentially violent or hazardous; dangerous

   an explosive situation

4. phonetics another word for plosive

---

noun

1. a substance that decomposes rapidly under certain conditions with the production of gases, which expand by the heat of the reaction. The energy released is used in firearms, blasting, and rocket propulsion

2. a plosive consonant; stop

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• explosiveness
  noun
• nonexplosiveness
  noun
• unexplosiveness
  noun
• nonexplosive
  adjective
• unexplosive
  adjective
• explosively
  adverb
• nonexplosively
  adverb
• unexplosively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• explosives
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of explosive

First recorded in 1660–70; explos(ion) + -ive

---

Explanation

An explosive is a substance that can be made to explode by being hit or lit on fire. You might use an explosive to create a tunnel through a mountain — but you probably shouldn't use one to clear weeds from your yard. Explosives contain highly reactive chemicals that are full of potential energy, which can be released with a bang. You can also use the word explosive as an adjective, to describe such substances or anything else that is dramatic, abrupt, or loud. You might say that your brother has an explosive temper sometimes, or that your snow shoveling business has seen explosive growth this winter. The Latin root is explodere, "drive out."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

explosive explosives

With 41 knockouts between them in 43 combined victories, another explosive contest could be in store at the O2 Arena.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Last month, Germany said Russia was responsible for a drone attack on an airport in Leipzig, in which an explosive failed to detonate close to Ukrainian cargo planes.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Some abilities, particularly explosive muscle power, peaked even earlier.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026

As presented here, “My Aim Is True” is every bit as explosive and exciting as the original release, an album that featured a clever blend of punk, rockabilly, pop and new wave sounds.

From Salon ● Oct. 14, 2026

Relations between the two men became cold, then bitter, then explosive.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

German prosecutors allege that in 2022 he was a serving officer in the Ukrainian army, external, and he had led a group of professional divers, a boat captain and an explosives expert.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Police conducted checks on the abandoned car and no explosives were found.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

After three days of investigations, including using a bomb disposal team, police said Tuesday they had found no explosives in the vehicles, but they had retrieved a "quantity of petrol".

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

But now counter-terrorism detectives say no explosives were found in their three vans, only an "accelerant" - petrol.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

They were old enough to remember when rags became felt for the war effort, when cans and scrap metal could become bullets and cans of grease explosives.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• fiery
• frenzied
• hazardous
• meteoric
• stormy
• tense
• touchy
• ugly
• uncontrollable
• unstable
• violent

---