There has been an explosive increase in the demand for labor.
Source: tatoeba (326365)
Explosive
/ɛkˈspləʊsɪv/
Synonyms for "explosive" (207 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (42)
Strong matches (62)
Verb(3 words)
detonatingdiceydiphthongdissimilationdynamiteedgyemotionalemotionally unstableepenthetic voweleruptiveexcitableexplodableexplodingexplosiblefieryflappingfraughtfraught with dangerfulminatinggelignite
Show 27 more words
glideglottalglottalizationgunpowdergutturalhastyhazardoushigh explosivehigh spiritedhigh strunghigh-mettledhigh-spiritedhigh-strunghighly emotionalhothot-temperedhotheadediffyinflammableinflammatoryirascibleirritablejeopardousknockinglabiallabializationlabiodental
Adjective(3 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (103)
labiovelarlaryngeallaterallingualliquidlivemanner of articulationmelinitemenacingmettlesomemodificationmonophthongmorphophonememutenasalnastynervousnitrocottonnitroglycerinocclusive
Show 71 more words
palatalparasitic vowelparlouspassionatepeakpepperypericulousperilousperturbablepharyngealpharyngealizationphonephonemeplasticplastic explosiveplosivepoppingpowderprecariouspricklyprothetic vowelquickquick-temperedrappingretroflexsegmental phonemesemivowelsensitiveseriousshakyshort-temperedskittishslappingslattingsmokeless powdersonantsonorityspeech soundspunkystartlishstopsurdsyllabic nucleussyllabic peaksyllabletappingtensethreateningtnttouch-and-gotouchytransition soundtrinitrotoluoltriphthonguglyuncertainunpredictableunsoundunstablevelarvillanous saltpetrevocablevocalicvocoidvoicevoiced soundvoiceless soundvoicingvolatilevolcanicvowel
Noun(10 words)
Adjective(2 words)
volatilewild energy burst
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: agitable, alarming, allophone, alveolar, animalistic energy.
- Sentence evidence is available for explosive, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "explosive".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "explosive"
Keep "explosive" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "explosive" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "explosive", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "explosive" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
13 entrieschangechemicalchemical substancedangerous substancedramatic effectemotional stateexcitementgrowthhazardous materialmaterialordnancetemperamentweapon
More specific
11 entriesCollocations
7 entriesexplosive chargeexplosive deviceexplosive growthexplosive materialexplosive powerexplosive reactionhigh explosive
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
3 entriesTranslations
15 translations across 13 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- взри́вен adj (having the character of an explosion)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 爆炸的 adj (having the character of an explosion)
Czech
1 entries- výbušný adj (having the character of an explosion)
Danish
2 entries- eksplosionsagtig adj (having the character of an explosion)
- eksplosiv adj (having the character of an explosion)
Finnish
1 entries- räjähdysmäinen adj (having the character of an explosion)
Galician
1 entries- explosivo adj (having the character of an explosion)
Greek
1 entries- εκρηκτικός adj (having the character of an explosion)
Portuguese
1 entries- explosivo adj (having the character of an explosion)
Russian
1 entries- взрывно́й adj (having the character of an explosion)
Spanish
1 entries- explosivo adj (having the character of an explosion)
Swedish
2 entries- explosionsartad adj (having the character of an explosion)
- explosiv adj (having the character of an explosion)
Turkish
1 entries- patlayıcı adj (having the character of an explosion)
Welsh
1 entries- ffrwydrol adj (having the character of an explosion)
Sample sentences
21 total sentences available.
The cheetah uses a combination of stealth and explosive acceleration to catch its prey.
Source: tatoeba (2909541)
There was an explosive mixture in his head containing feelings of inferiority as well as visions of omnipotence.
Source: tatoeba (3150287)
We cannot say categorically why the Russian jet crashed, but as more information has come to light we have become concerned that the plane may well have been brought down by an explosive device.
Source: tatoeba (4677937)
Showing 4 of 21 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "explosive"?
Closest matches include agitable, alarming, allophone, alveolar, animalistic energy.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "explosive"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.