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

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, who spearheaded China's entry into global trade and laid the foundation for its explosive growth, has died at the age of 97.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

Ms. Bridgers’s romantic partner is comedian and musician Bo Burnham, and the explosive “Bobby” is one of several songs that seem drawn from their relationship.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

The findings explore the possibility that the Universe did not begin with a single explosive event.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

While authorities have not named the type of explosive, unconfirmed media reports have said it was Semtex, a plastic explosive with industrial and military uses.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

Did this mean another ball of explosive noise was on its way?

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

The Cernavodă plant, which supplies about a fifth of Romania’s power demands, shut down in mid-August after the military’s attempts to divert more water toward the plant using explosives didn’t pay off.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

While the explosion caused no casualties, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the amount of explosives it was carrying was "significant".

From Barron's ● Aug. 8, 2026

Elsewhere, it reports that "police find explosives in drone at Leipzig airport."

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

A lawsuit filed by Lemus’ daughter last month claims that Barragan and other top commanders were warned of “training deficiencies” within the arson explosives detail before the incident.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

While Dasch and his team were busy shopping and meeting at the Horn & Hardart Automat, the FBI was examining the boxes of explosives and equipment the Coast Guard had discovered on Amagansett Beach.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Related Words

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