explosive
Americanadjective
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of, involving, or characterized by an explosion or explosions
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capable of exploding or tending to explode
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potentially violent or hazardous; dangerous
an explosive situation
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phonetics another word for plosive
noun
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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
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a plosive consonant; stop
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing explosive
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for January 28–February 3, 2023
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2015 National Spelling Bee Words
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-ive
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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.
The big bang theory may have triumphed among most cosmologists, but the persistence of unanswered questions—what came before that explosive moment? could our universe be one of many?—leaves plenty of room for speculation and dissent.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
Maximin Carter, 51, from Neath Port Talbot, was initially arrested on suspicion of attempting to make an explosive after police were called to Commercial Street, Abergwynfi, on 14 February.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
The explosive growth of electric vehicles has intensified the search for ways to make electric motors more energy efficient.
From Science Daily • May 18, 2026
The stock market’s rally from the March selloff has been explosive — not to mention far more concentrated than what investors were seeing earlier this year.
From MarketWatch • May 17, 2026
The first stage depleted its fuel, and the booster coasted for a fraction of a second as it jettisoned stage clamps via explosive bolts.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
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.
