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

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Etymology

Origin of explosive

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

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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

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

Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley both weighed in at their career-heaviest and promised another explosive encounter in Saturday's heavyweight world-title rematch in London.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 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

With this, we were off to an explosive developmental stage in which great varieties of respiring life, including the multicellular forms, became feasible.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

“No leniency, no turning a blind eye,” Salam said in his announcement of the explosives seizure.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

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

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

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

A UK probe into a suspected bomb plot at an airbase used by the United States was mired in confusion on Tuesday, after media reported no explosives were detected in vehicles seized nearby.

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026

How did a woman who crafted explosives for the Resistance end up a slave?

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

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