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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of explosive
Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
The military contractor supplies weapons to Israel and is the maker of the MK-84 bomb, an unguided heavy explosive with a wide blast radius.
—News Desk, Artforum, 25 Sep. 2025
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Fueled by the warm waters of the Caribbean, the storm underwent explosive growth over the weekend, its wind speed doubling from 70 mph to over 140 mph.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Adjective
Investigators have since concluded that the item initially thought to be an explosive was debris from a fiery vehicle crash.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
The military contractor supplies weapons to Israel and is the maker of the MK-84 bomb, an unguided heavy explosive with a wide blast radius.
—News Desk, Artforum, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
Her friend’s reaction was explosive.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Fueled by the warm waters of the Caribbean, the storm underwent explosive growth over the weekend, its wind speed doubling from 70 mph to over 140 mph.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explosive
Adjective
-
The intense taste and smell can make this tonic hard to stomach.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Part of what spurred intense interest, according to sources, was the success of Weapons, Zach Cregger’s summer horror hit.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Once again, the debate in the book is not over whether or not people should be violent.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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As a result, many legends are connected to its violent past, and its dungeon, in particular, is said to be haunted by tortured souls.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Samaritan’s Purse has pledged 42 ambulances, 28 of them armored, to Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service, and is supporting 11 major construction projects, including ambulance response stations and community centers equipped with bomb shelters.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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The Russians had already been converting Soviet-era bombs into glide munitions with a range of some 80 kilometers (50 miles), allowing aircraft to fire them while staying well clear of Ukrainian air defenses.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Gómez took the 5-day trip to Mexico City as a brief respite before starting intensive training to care for Noah at his home in New York City.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
-
And the side hustle is time-intensive.—
Megan Sauer,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Andrew Garfield leads the feature that is now in production, portraying the leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
-
While there are plenty of realistic iterations featuring ferocious teeth and claws, there are also a wide variety of friendly figurines and plushies.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Photos released by the Taiwanese navy showed an anti-submarine helicopter releasing a torpedo, alongside warships firing missiles and guns.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Originally designed for line-of-battle engagements, Fusō underwent major refits in the 1930s, gaining improved armor, torpedo bulges, and a speed of roughly 24 knots.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The rebound in corporate profitability was largely helped by Beijing’s policies aimed at curtailing fierce price competition across industrial sectors, at a time when deflation in producer prices stretched into its third year.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
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The eyewall generally produces the fiercest winds and heaviest rainfall, according to Deanna Hence, a professor of climate, meteorology and atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.—
NPR,
NPR,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The honesty hit home for fans who’ve watched Homa navigate a turbulent stretch.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Whether this week’s series of agreements across Asia marks the start of a broader reset—or a temporary thaw in a turbulent trade landscape—will depend on how these commitments unfold in the months ahead.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explosive. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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