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You've read about funeral pyres, and you may even have survived a pyromaniac ("insane fire-starting") stage in your youth, so you might have guessed that pyr means "fire" in Greek. Pyrotechnic refers literally to fireworks, but always seems to be used for something else—something just as exciting, explosive, dazzling, sparkling, or brilliant. The performances of sports stars and dancers are often described as pyrotechnic, and a critic may describe the pyrotechnics of a rock guitarist's licks or a film's camerawork. A pyrotechnic performance is always impressive, but the word occasionally suggests something more like "flashy" or "flamboyant".
Examples of pyrotechnic in a Sentence
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025
The related Cashmere bouquet (Clerodendrum bungei) erupts with outrageous pyrotechnic explosions of pinkish red flowers.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 21 Feb. 2025
Gregg Evans, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
The vast banners unfurled by Paris Saint-Germain’s ultras just before kick-off, in the midst of pyrotechnics and a laser show, were inspired by the city’s motto.
—Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pyrotechnic
Cite this Entry
“Pyrotechnic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyrotechnic. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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