Explosive is a word used to describe something that can cause a sudden, violent burst of energy or sound. Antonyms for the word explosive can include tranquil, peaceful, serene, quiet, or calm. These words denote a sense of calmness and stability in opposition to the suddenness and forcefulness of the explosive. Other antonyms would be gradual, slow, weak, restrained or controlled, which speak to the opposite of explosive being a burst of energy or sound that is instead slow, weak, or controlled. Each of these antonyms for explosive offers a different perspective on what is the opposite of such a powerful, intense word.