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.

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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

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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

Mentioned in this episode: “Inside the suddenly explosive world of AI safety,” from The Verge.

From Slate ● Sep. 19, 2026

“We had a great first half, physical play, explosive offense,” Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

The volcano's sustained explosive activity weakened on September 6, although Anak Krakatau continued to rumble.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026

But soon she will likely be known for the explosive announcement that is “Misty Green.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

Millet had planned an elaborate series of explosive “set pieces,” fireworks affixed to large metal frames shaped to depict various portraits and tableaus.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

UC-30 was carrying 18 mines and six torpedoes, leaving the submarine packed with explosives.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026

"The Germans are further ahead with this than we are in Denmark. They sometimes retrieve explosives from the wrecks and neutralize them, but doing so is very costly," she notes.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026

On Tuesday, the inquiry heard Nottinghamshire Police had not disclosed the discovery of documents found in a bin at Calocane's address, which contained a list of explosives, until June this year.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

The Shahed—a deceptively simple and destructive flying wedge of fiberglass, microchips and explosives costing as little as $20,000—helps show how weapons proliferation has changed, and why tapping global supply chains is now so important.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

I’ve been won to the side of schoolteachers and nurses, and lost all allegiance to plastic explosives.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

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