explosion
Sudden energy release
An explosion is a sudden, violent release of energy—a bomb detonating, a gas tank rupturing, a chemical reaction going wrong.
The word extends to any rapid, dramatic increase: an explosion of interest in AI, a population explosion.
Something explosive can literally blow up or figuratively erupt: an explosive temper, explosive growth.
Loud deep sound
- bangSudden loud noise
- roarLoud, deep animal cry
- thunderousExtremely loud, resounding
- deafeningOverwhelmingly loud
earsplitting · blast · crack · rumble · sonic · decibels · resounding · thunder
Sudden forceful burst
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- dynamitePowerful blasting compound
- TNTPowerful blasting compound
- C4Moldable military explosive
grenade · ignition · fuse · combustion · nitroglycerin · firework · pyrotechnics · mine
Violent sudden release
- lavaErupted liquid stone
- magmaMolten rock underground
- craterImpact or volcanic basin
- calderaCollapsed volcanic summit basin
tephra · pyroclastic · lahar · stratovolcano · fumarole · Vesuvius · Krakatoa · plume
Propagating pressure disturbance
- blast wavePressure surge from detonation
- concussionBrain injury from impact
- craterImpact or volcanic basin
- debrisScattered broken fragments
shrapnel · casualties · trauma · damage · aftermath · displacement · evacuation · survivors
Forceful forward motion
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
- energyPower to do work
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- pressureForce upon contact
momentum · impulse · velocity · acceleration · recoil · kinetic · ejecta · outburst
Rapid increase in quantity
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- boomLoud deep sound
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- mushroomingExpanding rapidly outward
skyrocketing · ballooning · outbreak · epidemic · spike · upsurge · outburst · flurry
Sharp and unexpected
- instantaneousHappening without any delay
- flashBrief burst of light
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- rapidMoving with haste
swift · unexpected · startling · spontaneous · unforeseen · immediate · surprise · violent
Severe widespread destruction
- obliterationTotal destruction or erasure
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- demolitionDeliberate structural destruction
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
rubble · ruins · carnage · decimation · catastrophe · razing · flattening · pulverization
boom
Loud deep sound
- bangSudden loud noise
- roarLoud, deep animal cry
- thunderousExtremely loud, resounding
deafening · earsplitting · blast · crack · rumble · sonic · decibels · resounding · thunder · report
blast
Sudden forceful burst
C4 · grenade · ignition · fuse · combustion · nitroglycerin · firework · pyrotechnics · mine · ordnance
eruption
Violent sudden release
caldera · tephra · pyroclastic · lahar · stratovolcano · fumarole · Vesuvius · Krakatoa · plume · ashfall
shockwave
Propagating pressure disturbance
- blast wavePressure surge from detonation
- concussionBrain injury from impact
- craterImpact or volcanic basin
debris · shrapnel · casualties · trauma · damage · aftermath · displacement · evacuation · survivors · emergency
thrust
Forceful forward motion
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
- energyPower to do work
- powerEnergy transfer rate
pressure · momentum · impulse · velocity · acceleration · recoil · kinetic · ejecta · outburst · burst
proliferation
Rapid increase in quantity
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- boomLoud deep sound
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
mushrooming · skyrocketing · ballooning · outbreak · epidemic · spike · upsurge · outburst · flurry · wave
abrupt
Sharp and unexpected
- instantaneousHappening without any delay
- flashBrief burst of light
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
rapid · swift · unexpected · startling · spontaneous · unforeseen · immediate · surprise · violent · cataclysmic
devastation
Severe widespread destruction
- obliterationTotal destruction or erasure
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- demolitionDeliberate structural destruction
wreckage · rubble · ruins · carnage · decimation · catastrophe · razing · flattening · pulverization · collapse
supernova
Exploding massive star
- Big BangUniverse's explosive origin
- starburstRadiant pattern from center
- novaTemporary stellar brightening event
stellar · nebula · cosmology · universe · celestial · astronomical
- eventsevent, events, party, parties, wedding
- soundssound, beeps, listen, sounds, hear
- -tion wordscreation, formation, production, construction, organization
- loud noisesnoise, bang, crash, roar, boom
- Noisy Thingsalarm, sirens, jackhammer, car alarm, chainsaw
- sound sourcesdrum, guitar, piano, violin, trumpet
explosionimplosion
Violent collapse inward
collapse · compression · contraction · slump · decline
explosioncontainment
Preventing hostile expansion
stability · stasis · equilibrium · controlled burn · slow leak
- nuclear explosionViolent atomic energy release
- controlled explosionsDeliberate detonations under supervision
- population explosionRapid growth in inhabitants
- gas explosionIgnited vapor detonation
- explosive expertOne who handles detonations
- explosive powerDestructive force of detonation
explosive, explosions, explosives, explosively, explosiveness, explosion-proof