explosively

The word "explosively" describes something happening with the sudden, forceful energy of an explosion. Sometimes it is used in a literal way, when something actually bursts, breaks apart, or goes off with violent force. A device might fail explosively, or fireworks might burst explosively in the sky.

Very often, though, the word is used figuratively. It can describe rapid growth, as when a company grows explosively or interest in a new app rises explosively in just a few weeks. It can also describe sudden emotional or social reactions. An argument may turn explosively angry, or a crowd may respond explosively to surprising news. In these cases, the idea is not only that something happens fast, but that it happens with unusual force and intensity.

The word usually suggests more than simple speed. It carries a sense of pressure being released all at once, or of change happening so quickly and strongly that it feels hard to control. News can spread explosively online, violence can erupt explosively after a tense silence, and demand for a product can rise explosively after a major event. In both literal and figurative uses, "explosively" points to suddenness, power, and a sharp jump in energy or scale.