explosive
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- unstable, volatile
- violent, fiery, stormy, touchy, vehement

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. ex‧plo‧sive¹ /ɪkˈspləʊsɪv $ -ˈsploʊ-/ adjective
[Word Family: adjective: exploding, explosive, exploded, unexploded; noun: explosion, explosive; verb: explode; adverb: explosively]

1. able or likely to explode:
Because the gas is highly explosive, it needs to be kept in high-pressure containers.
A small explosive device (=bomb) was set off outside the UN headquarters today.

2. [usually before noun] relating to or like an explosion:
the explosive force of volcanoes

3. likely to become violent or to cause feelings of violence:
He’s good at defusing potentially explosive situations.
the explosive issue of uncontrolled immigration

4. showing sudden strong or angry emotion:
Both men suddenly spoke in the same explosive tone of voice.

5. [usually before noun] increasing suddenly or quickly in amount or number:
the explosive growth of microcomputers

6. an explosive sound is sudden and loud
—explosively adverb
—explosiveness noun [uncountable]

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. explosive² noun [uncountable and countable]
[Word Family: adjective: exploding, explosive, exploded, unexploded; noun: explosion, explosive; verb: explode; adverb: explosively]
a substance that can cause an explosion
⇒ plastic explosive

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

explosive
adj.
I. capable of exploding
VERBS be
ADV. highly a highly explosive mixture of gases

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

explosive
II. causing strong feelings
VERBS be | become
ADV. highly Race is a highly explosive issue.
potentially The political situation is potentially explosive.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

explosive
noun
ADJ. high a bomb containing 200 lb of high explosive
commercial, home-made | chemical, conventional, plastic, semtex
VERB + EXPLOSIVE make, manufacture | plant They planted explosives in the tunnel.
detonate, set off
EXPLOSIVE + NOUN explosives expert

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲