combustible

kəmˈbʌstɪbəl

As an adjective, it describes materials capable of catching fire and burning, and is common in technical and safety contexts. Figuratively, it captures situations or atmospheres so charged with tension that they could erupt at any moment.

1. brennbar

The go-to translation in technical and everyday use, referring to substances or materials that can catch fire and sustain combustion.

All combustible materials must be stored in a certified fireproof cabinet.
Alle brennbaren Materialien müssen in einem zertifizierten feuerfesten Schrank aufbewahrt werden.
The safety label warned that the solvent was highly combustible.
Das Sicherheitsetikett warnte, dass das Lösungsmittel hochbrennbar sei.
Engineers ran tests to determine whether the new foam insulation was combustible.
Die Ingenieure führten Tests durch, um festzustellen, ob die neue Schaumdämmung brennbar war.

2. explosiv · figurative

Used figuratively when a situation, mood, or social atmosphere is highly volatile and on the verge of erupting.

Years of inequality had created a combustible social atmosphere in the region.
Jahrelange Ungleichheit hatte in der Region eine explosive gesellschaftliche Atmosphäre geschaffen.
The debate turned combustible when one candidate questioned the other's integrity.
Die Debatte wurde explosiv, als ein Kandidat die Integrität des anderen infrage stellte.

Notes

A well-known pitfall: "inflammable" is not the opposite of "combustible" (it is a direct synonym of "flammable"). The prefix "in-" here is intensifying, not negating. In German regulatory and GHS labeling contexts, "entzündlich" and "leicht entzündlich" carry precise meanings tied to specific flash-point temperature ranges, so a generic "brennbar" may not always be sufficient in official or safety-critical documentation.

Synonyms

flammable inflammable ignitable incendiary volatile

Related phrases

combustion flammable fire hazard ignition incendiary volatile flash point