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
Christina Coulter, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
The explosives contain heavy metals and oxidizing agents, some of which could pose harmful for residents’ health, according to a county news release issued Monday.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
In Northern Virginia, the explosive growth of data centers has strained the grid so severely that local officials have warned of power reliability risks.
—Anisha Steephen, Time, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Adjective
The brothers spent the months before the bombing ordering, stockpiling and transporting explosives, per BBC reporting at the time.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
The explosives contain heavy metals and oxidizing agents, some of which could pose harmful for residents’ health, according to a county news release issued Monday.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
Especially underwhelming was an offense that was advertised as explosive but often sputtered and stumbled.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
In Northern Virginia, the explosive growth of data centers has strained the grid so severely that local officials have warned of power reliability risks.
—Anisha Steephen, Time, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explosive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explosive
Adjective
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The dog days of summer brought intense heat to the Volunteer State, including a nearly month-long streak of 90-degree days in July, the fifth longest in Nashville’s history, said the weather service.—
Diana Leyva,
The Tennessean,
23 Aug. 2025
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The combination of extremely dry weather, intense heat, parched land and lightning strikes in western Colorado has been the recipe for most of this year’s major blazes.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But Over-the-Rhine and Downtown have seen an uptick in violent crime.—
Brenda Ordonez,
The Enquirer,
21 Aug. 2025
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Coleman said about 175 people convicted of violent crimes that took place before the law's effective date who had not yet been sentenced could have been eligible for early release.—
Lucas Aulbach,
The Courier-Journal,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Apa and Cline are both cracking up now as Apa drops one more bomb.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Born on July 22, 1938, in Stepney, London, Stamp grew up in the shadow of World War II’s Blitz, dodging bombs and dreaming of the silver screen.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Landing after months of public sparring between county leaders and the governor, the letter signaled the start of an intensive review that would put nearly every corner of county government under Tallahassee’s microscope.—
Josh Salman,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
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In the era of intensive parenting, vacation has turned into something that many parents need a vacation from.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The players rose to it too; their start was ferocious, matching the atmosphere.—
Harry De Cosemo,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
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The smallest magnetic loops ever seen in the sun's corona — imaged for the first time by the National Science Foundation's Daniel F. Inouye Solar Telescope — could be the bottom floor of the machinery that powers the ferocious flares that routinely blast out from our star.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Based on the Boeing 737 airframe, the P-8A is specifically designed for anti-submarine warfare and is equipped with advanced sensors, sonobuoys, torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 July 2025
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More than 180 of those fatalities resulted from a Japanese torpedo strike on the USS New Orleans, which was hit on its portside bow during the Battle of Tassafaronga on November 30, 1942.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Data from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) shows Democrats ahead of Republicans in overall fundraising, with more success among House Democrats than senators, as the parties gear up for a fierce 2026 midterm election.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
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The incident comes amid fierce controversy around pro-Palestinian activism and free speech in the UK, with musicians often at the forefront.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Sheckler and Kells have used the parallels in their turbulent journeys in the spotlight to lean on one another, making their bond stronger over the years.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
14 Aug. 2025
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By unifying intelligence, manufacturers can run simulations, identify vulnerabilities, and respond proactively—protecting digital and sustainability gains even in turbulent periods.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explosive. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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