explosive

explosive — adjective

1. likely or able to burst apart violently, often with a loud noise and great destr

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

likely or able to burst apart violently, often with a loud noise and great destructive force, said especially about gases, chemicals, or devices.

Example

The old gas canisters in the shed were highly explosive and needed careful disposal.

highly explosive — intensifier commonly used before the adjective

Firefighters warned that the leaking pipe had created an explosive mixture inside the kitchen.

explosive + noun (mixture, gas, material)

Common collocations
  • highly explosive
  • explosive device
  • explosive material
  • explosive gas
  • explosive charge
Synonyms
  • volatile

    more technical; describes liquids or chemicals that change into gas easily and can explode

  • combustible

    focuses on the ability to catch fire, not necessarily to burst apart

  • unstable

    broader — can describe any substance that is likely to change state dangerously

Antonyms
  • stable

    not likely to react or explode

  • safe

    not dangerous to handle or store

Grammar Patterns

explosive + noun (material, gas, device)

be + explosive

Usage Note

Frequently appears in safety warnings and news reports. The noun it describes is the substance or object that can explode, not the cause of the explosion.

Common Mistakes

The balloon was explosive when it popped.
The balloon burst when it popped.
'explosive' implies a violent chemical or physical reaction, not just breaking.
This cleaning spray is very explosive.
This cleaning spray is highly flammable.
'explosive' is used for substances that burst apart; 'flammable' is for things that catch fire.

2. extremely loud and happening all at once, like the sound of a bomb or firework g

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

extremely loud and happening all at once, like the sound of a bomb or firework going off.

Example

The dinner guests were startled by an explosive burst of laughter from the kitchen.

explosive + noun (burst, crack, bang)

An explosive crack echoed across the frozen lake as the ice began to split.

Common collocations
  • explosive sound
  • explosive bang
  • explosive crack
  • explosive burst
  • explosive roar
Synonyms
  • deafening

    focuses on loudness without the suddenness — a noise can be deafening but gradual

  • thunderous

    describes a deep, rolling loudness rather than a sharp sudden sound

  • ear-splitting

    emphasises the pain caused by the loudness, not the sudden onset

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

explosive + noun (sound, bang, crack, roar)

Usage Note

The sound is always abrupt and startling — not used for steady, continuous loud noises like the hum of traffic. Typically used before a noun naming the sound itself (bang, crack, burst, roar).

3. involving or likely to cause sudden, strong negative emotions such as anger, con

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

involving or likely to cause sudden, strong negative emotions such as anger, conflict, or violence — said about a situation, issue, or piece of news.

Example

The manager knew the team meeting could become explosive if salaries were brought up.

become explosive — predicate use describing a situation turning tense

Tunde's explosive comments about the new policy led to a heated argument in the office.

Common collocations
  • explosive situation
  • explosive issue
  • explosive comment
  • explosive conflict
  • explosive atmosphere
Synonyms
  • volatile

    more general — describes any unstable situation that could change suddenly for the worse

  • tense

    less strong than explosive — suggests nervousness but not necessarily an outburst

  • heated

    describes arguments or discussions with strong emotion, but not the risk of violence

Antonyms
  • calm

    peaceful, without anger or conflict

  • peaceful

    harmonious, not likely to cause violence

Grammar Patterns

explosive + noun (situation, issue, comment, reaction)

the situation is explosive

Usage Note

Subject is usually a situation, issue, or public statement, not a person — though a person's temper can be described as explosive when it is likely to result in a sudden angry outburst.

Common Mistakes

I felt explosive about the test results.
The test results created an explosive atmosphere in class.
'explosive' typically describes the situation, not a person's private emotion.

4. increasing or expanding extremely quickly by a very large amount — used about nu

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

increasing or expanding extremely quickly by a very large amount — used about numbers, sizes, or economic activity.

Example

The country saw explosive growth in smartphone use between 2010 and 2020.

explosive + noun (growth, rise, increase)

The online course experienced explosive demand after the university offered it for free.

Common collocations
  • explosive growth
  • explosive rise
  • explosive increase
  • explosive demand
  • explosive profits
Synonyms
  • dramatic

    broader — can describe any striking change, not just rapid increase

  • meteoric

    suggests a very fast rise followed by a fall, like a shooting star

  • sudden

    simpler word for fast change, but less intense than explosive

Antonyms
  • gradual

    happening slowly over time

  • steady

    consistent, neither fast nor slow

Grammar Patterns

explosive + noun (growth, rise, increase, demand)

Usage Note

Always used before the noun that names what is growing (growth, rise, increase, demand, profit). Never used to describe the growing thing itself — only the rate or scale of the growth.

5. describing a player or movement that can suddenly shift into very high speed or

5.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing a player or movement that can suddenly shift into very high speed or great strength, especially in ball games, running, or weightlifting.

Example

The basketball player was known for his explosive jumps and quick court movements.

explosive + noun (jump, shot, acceleration) — common in sports commentary

The coach trained the runners to improve their explosive acceleration off the starting block.

Common collocations
  • explosive power
  • explosive speed
  • explosive jump
  • explosive shot
  • explosive acceleration
Synonyms
  • powerful

    general — doesn't specify the element of suddenness

  • dynamic

    broader — describes active, energetic style, not just burst power

  • forceful

    emphasises strength applied steadily, not a sudden burst

Antonyms
  • slow

    taking a long time to reach speed

Grammar Patterns

explosive + noun (jump, shot, acceleration, speed, power)

Usage Note

Most common in sports journalism and coaching. Refers specifically to the ability to generate maximum force or speed from a stationary or slow position — not used for general athletic ability or endurance.

explosive — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words describe something that can change dangerously, but they highlight different risks. 'Explosive' (the headword here) specifically means something can burst apart violently — think of a gas canister or bomb. 'Volatile' is more technical and broad: a volatile chemical turns into gas easily at room temperature, which makes it a fire or explosion risk, but the word also describes unstable political situations (a volatile region). 'Combustible' is narrower — it means something can catch fire and burn, but not necessarily explode (wood is combustible but not explosive). 'Unstable' is the most general: an unstable chemical compound can react unpredictably, and an unstable structure can collapse. In everyday contexts, 'explosive' (adj/1) is the strongest word, implying violent force; 'volatile' suggests risk that could go either way; 'combustible' focuses on fire risk; and 'unstable' covers any kind of dangerous unpredictability. For example, you would call dynamite 'explosive', petrol vapour 'volatile', a pile of dry leaves 'combustible', and a shaking ladder 'unstable'.

volatilecombustibleunstable ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • explosively

Phrases

  • reach explosive levels
  • take on an explosive character

Prepositions

  • explosive in (nature/character)
  • explosive for (a particular group/situation)

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'explosive' comes from the Latin verb 'explodere', which originally meant 'to drive an actor off the stage by clapping and hissing'. It was formed from 'ex-' (out) and 'plaudere' (to clap). In the 1500s, the meaning shifted to describe a sudden, violent burst of sound or force under pressure. By the 1600s, the adjective 'explosive' was used for gunpowder and similar substances. The modern scientific sense — describing a substance that releases gas and heat at extreme speed — developed during the 1800s as chemistry and mining advanced.