combustible

adjective

com·​bus·​ti·​ble kəm-ˈbə-stə-bəl 

1

: capable of combustion

combustible materials, such as paper, leaves, and sawdust

combustible gases

2

: easily excited

a combustible temper

The coach had to keep the combustible players under control.

combustibility

kəm-ˌbə-stə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

combustible noun

combustibly

kəm-ˈbə-stə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• burnable
• combustive
• fiery
• flammable
• ignitable
• ignitible
• inflammable
• touchy

Examples of combustible in a Sentence

The fuel is highly combustible.

don't store oily rags and other combustible materials in a hot attic

Recent Examples on the Web

And there is no shortage of other spoilers in this combustible region. —Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024

The combination of these factors could prove combustible and lead to less-than-ideal outcomes on Wall Street, Main Street and in Washington. —Ron Insana, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2024

Putting her into the chaos of John David spinning around her, then Sam and Michael Potts and Ray Fisher and Corey Hawkins, the alchemy of all those things, created this beautiful and combustible energy. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2024

At the instigation of Vince, who’s trying to set himself up as the replacement for the combustible — and patricidal — Chickie, a sit-down is set up between New York, Kansas City, and Tulsa in the neutral ground of Atlanta. —Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin combustibilis, from Latin combustus (past participle of combūrere "to destroy with fire, combust") + -ibilis -ible

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

combustible

adjective

com·​bus·​ti·​ble kəm-ˈbəs-tə-bəl 

1

: capable of being burned

2

: catching fire or burning easily

combustibility

-ˌbəs-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

combustible noun

Medical Definition

combustible

adjective

com·​bus·​ti·​ble kəm-ˈbəs-tə-bəl 

: capable of combustion

combustible anesthetics