1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
there's been an explosive interest in the sport since the Olympics
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
one of the most explosive storms to hit that area of the coast in some time
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of explosive
Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 21 May 2025
This is a case of too much style and too little substance, as melodrama and excessive slo-mo overshadow the few explosive scenes, including a decent motorcycle chase.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Max Gao, Variety, 16 May 2025
Brady — who was shot in the head by a bullet packed with explosives — suffered the most serious injuries of the four victims, which included President Reagan.
—Kyler Alvord, People.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Adjective
Bravo/Getty Images Glamour: Season two has been pretty explosive so far.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 21 May 2025
This is a case of too much style and too little substance, as melodrama and excessive slo-mo overshadow the few explosive scenes, including a decent motorcycle chase.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Noun
With an assist from her nephew, Dr. Lucas Adams (Niko Terho) — who could only watch helplessly as Jenna held an explosive to his ex-girlfriend Dr. Simone Griffith’s (Alexi Floyd) chest — Amelia is able to stop Dylan’s bleeding.
—Max Gao, Variety, 16 May 2025
Brady — who was shot in the head by a bullet packed with explosives — suffered the most serious injuries of the four victims, which included President Reagan.
—Kyler Alvord, People.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explosive
Adjective
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But Tranter and Bartlett said Trump may settle roughly into this range of having an approval rating between 43 percent and 47 percent given the intense polarization of the country, as has been common in the past couple administrations.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
31 May 2025
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Residents of Maoming, China were treated to a celestial light show earlier this week when a surprise fireball burst to life overhead, illuminating the city before disappearing in an intense flare of light.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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Yet the Brazilian proceeded to show how Pereira’s faith was misplaced, first with a stroppy performance at Chelsea that prompted his head coach to publicly criticise his body language and then with his second violent meltdown of the season, against Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez in the FA Cup.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
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Police Chief Neil Noakes spent two decades in uniform, working to reduce violent crimes, support officers’ mental wellness, and strengthen trust in Fort Worth.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 May 2025
Noun
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In January, state media reported that intelligence officials in Syria’s post-Assad government thwarted a plan by IS to set off a bomb at a Shiite Muslim shrine south of Damascus.—
Bassem Mroue,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
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Moscow’s stationing fission or fusion bombs in orbit would violate the Outer Space Treaty - the fundamental international pact that governs space missions across the solar system.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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With 4 million packages a day passing through American gateways using the de minimis exception, and around half of those shipments hailing from China, CBP is now contending with a much more intensive entry process for small shipments than it’s been accustomed to.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
13 May 2025
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The department conducts an annual review of each state, and a more intensive one that’s supposed to be completed roughly every five years.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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She and her fellow hybrids are sent to investigate the site, leading to the encounter of mysterious life forms — including one ferocious Xenomorph.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
-
Both general elections are expected to be competitive, but only the New Jersey Democratic primary has featured ferocious competition out of the four party primaries.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
19 May 2025
Noun
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Trump fired a tariff torpedo at China — and hit Boeing right between the eyes, writes columnist Michael Hiltzik.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2025
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This is Dan McDermott’s big, bold, torpedo bat swing at AMC.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The feedback was fierce—storyboards dismantled, ideas shredded—but the environment was psychologically safe.—
Ann Kowal Smith,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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Caron was used to seeing my fiery side, the fierce competitor, the demanding coach.—
Jim Calhoun with Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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This time, there’s still some uneasiness around the organization, mainly rooted in its turbulent recent past.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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These steps prevent, rather than heal, costly losses that weaken a company’s cash position, especially in turbulent times.—
Dean Kaplan,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explosive. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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