explosive

[ik-sploh-siv]

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

1. an explosive agent or substance, as dynamite.

2. Phonetics.,  plosive.

explosive

/ 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of explosive¹

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

Example Sentences

Preventing an explosive rise in debt would require a sizable budget surplus excluding interest—i.e., steep spending cuts or tax increases.

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As in other South Asian nations, youth unemployment in India remains an explosive issue.

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A video published in August featured a drone dropping an explosive on a man walking his dog in the shadow of a large fence.

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A construction team made a shocking discovery at the Port of Long Beach on Wednesday afternoon when they inadvertently unearthed a World War II-era explosive device, authorities said.

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Williams agreed in May to plead guilty to a single count of threats regarding fire and explosives.

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Related Words

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