explosive
Ready to detonate
Explosive describes something capable of exploding—detonating with sudden, violent force.
An explosive device contains materials that combust rapidly.
As a noun, an explosive is such a material: dynamite, C-4, gunpowder.
The meaning extends to anything that erupts suddenly or intensely: an explosive temper, explosive growth, an explosive situation.
In sports, explosive describes powerful, sudden movement: explosive speed off the line.
Explosive device or disaster
- grenadeHandheld thrown explosive
- landmineBuried pressure-activated explosive
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
- mortarGrinding bowl or binder
artillery shell · IED · car bomb · depth charge · torpedo · rocket · warhead · shrapnel
Powerful blasting compound
- TNTPowerful blasting compound
- C4Moldable military explosive
- nitroglycerinExplosive compound, cardiac drug
- gunpowderCombustible propellant mixture
plastique · cordite · ammonium nitrate · fulminate · black powder · gelignite · nitrocellulose · blasting cap
Sudden loud noise
- boomLoud deep sound
- blastSudden forceful burst
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
- fireballLuminous meteor or explosion
mushroom cloud · concussion · flash · burst · eruption · discharge · report · thunderclap
Liable to sudden change
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- hot-headedProne to sudden anger
- quick-temperedProne to sudden anger
irascible · fiery · combustible · hair-trigger · unpredictable · touchy · testy · powder keg
Sharp and unexpected
- instantaneousHappening without any delay
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
- shockingCausing intense surprise
swift · flash · split-second · precipitous · without warning · out of nowhere · catching off guard · blindsiding
Having great strength
- violentInvolving physical force
- forcefulExerting strong pressure
- devastatingCausing severe damage
- destructiveCausing severe harm
shattering · obliterating · high-impact · concussive · percussive · intense · catastrophic · tremendous
Moving with haste
- exponentialIncreasing by constant ratio
- dramaticStrikingly expressive or sudden
- meteoricSwiftly spectacular yet brief
- skyrocketingRising sharply and quickly
surging · booming · accelerating · mushrooming · runaway · steep · sharp · sudden
bomb
Explosive device or disaster
- grenadeHandheld thrown explosive
- landmineBuried pressure-activated explosive
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
mortar · artillery shell · IED · car bomb · depth charge · torpedo · rocket · warhead · shrapnel · ordnance
dynamite
Powerful blasting compound
- TNTPowerful blasting compound
- C4Moldable military explosive
- nitroglycerinExplosive compound, cardiac drug
gunpowder · plastique · cordite · ammonium nitrate · fulminate · black powder · gelignite · nitrocellulose · blasting cap · detonator
bang
Sudden loud noise
fireball · mushroom cloud · concussion · flash · burst · eruption · discharge · report · thunderclap · airburst
volatile
Liable to sudden change
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- hot-headedProne to sudden anger
quick-tempered · irascible · fiery · combustible · hair-trigger · unpredictable · touchy · testy · powder keg · tinderbox
abrupt
Sharp and unexpected
- instantaneousHappening without any delay
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
shocking · swift · flash · split-second · precipitous · without warning · out of nowhere · catching off guard · blindsiding · jolting
powerful
Having great strength
- violentInvolving physical force
- forcefulExerting strong pressure
- devastatingCausing severe damage
destructive · shattering · obliterating · high-impact · concussive · percussive · intense · catastrophic · tremendous · overwhelming
rapid
Moving with haste
- exponentialIncreasing by constant ratio
- dramaticStrikingly expressive or sudden
- meteoricSwiftly spectacular yet brief
skyrocketing · surging · booming · accelerating · mushrooming · runaway · steep · sharp · sudden · unprecedented
- hot-temperedhotheaded, quick-tempered, hair-trigger, fiery, volatile
- safety labelssafe, unsafe, dangerous, hazardous, toxic
- hazmathazmat suit, hazmat, hazardous materials, biohazard, dangerous goods
- projectilesbullet, bullets, arrow, rocket, rockets
- reactivereactive, excitable, volatile, high-strung, jumpy
- Terrorismterrorism, terror cell, suicide bomber, suicide bombing, suicide attack
explosiveinert
Inactive, physically or chemically
stable · nonexplosive · unreactive · unexplosive · nonflammable
- 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
explosion, explosions, explosives, explosively, explosiveness, nonexplosive