Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for explosive

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • exˈplosiveness, noun
  • exˈplosively, adverb
Discover More

Other Words From

  • ex·plosive·ly adverb
  • ex·plosive·ness noun
  • nonex·plosive adjective noun
  • nonex·plosive·ly adverb
  • nonex·plosive·ness noun
  • unex·plosive adjective
  • unex·plosive·ly adverb
  • unex·plosive·ness noun
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of explosive1

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

Example Sentences

It also seeded the ground for more explosive protests in 2019, which were triggered by Beijing’s proposal to extradite locals to the mainland.

From BBC

The youngsters pressed the button to detonate the explosives, with the site being cleared for new homes.

From BBC

Researchers at the University of York have been studying the environmental impact of the explosive, TNT, for more than a decade.

They were known for their explosive and cathartic live shows, immortalized by a performance of the single “Wolf Life Me” on David Letterman’s TV show in 2006.

Lt Col Hugo Clark, 54 is accused of taking a deactivated explosive through security at Edinburgh Airport on 16 October.

From BBC

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement