explosive
Americanadjective
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of, involving, or characterized by an explosion or explosions
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capable of exploding or tending to explode
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potentially violent or hazardous; dangerous
an explosive situation
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phonetics another word for plosive
noun
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a substance that decomposes rapidly under certain conditions with the production of gases, which expand by the heat of the reaction. The energy released is used in firearms, blasting, and rocket propulsion
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a plosive consonant; stop
Other Word Forms
- explosively adverb
- explosiveness noun
- nonexplosive adjective
- nonexplosively adverb
- nonexplosiveness noun
- unexplosive adjective
- unexplosively adverb
- unexplosiveness noun
Etymology
Origin of explosive
First recorded in 1660–70; explos(ion) + -ive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Experts generally say the best green replacement would be another liquid—perhaps ammonia, which can be emissions-free, even if it’s highly explosive.
Speaking about the explosive row that left viewers on the edge of their seats, and ultimately got herself banished, Fiona called herself a "plonker".
From BBC
It did so behind an explosive second half from point guard Jordan Marsh, who’d barely played during the Trojans’ previous three games.
From Los Angeles Times
Vandenberg, who had no stable employment and lived in his car, told the clerk he had significant knowledge of explosives and prior special operations forces experience.
From Los Angeles Times
A road was sealed off after a suspected World War Two explosive was brought into a police station.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
