1
as in angered
to become very angry
she blew up at everybody after a very long and very bad day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exploded
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
the building blew up because of a gas leak
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shattered
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive
blew up the biggest rocks and then cleared them away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in cracked up
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively
the advertisement blows the new soda up to the point where I half expected to be transported to a higher level of consciousness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of blew up
Even before social media blew up, Dessen was hesitant to date her books with references to phones or slang.
—
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 7 May 2026
One of those blew up on its landing attempt while another was purposefully expended to get its payload to a higher orbital insertion.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
The fifth commission for the plinth on the High Line elevated park is an homage to the Buddhas of Bamiyan, the pair of 6th-century colossi in central Afghanistan that the Taliban blew up in 2001.
—Benjamin Sutton, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
That story blew up the baseball world for a little while, with questions raised about your reputation as a teammate and clubhouse presence.
—Annie Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
The short sentiment blew up in 2025 when West Ada School District leaders told a teacher to take down her sign emblazoned with those words, ahead of the Legislature’s passage of a bill barring religious, political and ideological flags or banners in public schools.
—Idaho Statesman, 23 Apr. 2026
He got separated, then un-separated, then his wife gave birth during a car crash, then his wife blew up.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Nine Vicious blew up for a reason.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
Less than two weeks later another X post blew up when Kadri followed actress Megan Fox.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 7 May 2026
One of those blew up on its landing attempt while another was purposefully expended to get its payload to a higher orbital insertion.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
The fifth commission for the plinth on the High Line elevated park is an homage to the Buddhas of Bamiyan, the pair of 6th-century colossi in central Afghanistan that the Taliban blew up in 2001.
—Benjamin Sutton, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
That story blew up the baseball world for a little while, with questions raised about your reputation as a teammate and clubhouse presence.
—Annie Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
The short sentiment blew up in 2025 when West Ada School District leaders told a teacher to take down her sign emblazoned with those words, ahead of the Legislature’s passage of a bill barring religious, political and ideological flags or banners in public schools.
—Idaho Statesman, 23 Apr. 2026
He got separated, then un-separated, then his wife gave birth during a car crash, then his wife blew up.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Nine Vicious blew up for a reason.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
Less than two weeks later another X post blew up when Kadri followed actress Megan Fox.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blew up
Verb
-
Starmer also has angered supporters with attempts to cut welfare spending, some of which were reversed after Labour revolts.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
-
Buyers were angered after finding out that the new features would be released later than expected, the filing said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
This was the reactor that exploded on April 26, 1986, and sent radioactive fallout across Europe.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
-
Jafa exploded on the art world a decade ago, when Love Is the Message, the Message Is Death had a surprise debut at Art Basel in Switzerland, before becoming a sensation when Gavin Brown debuted it in New York ahead of the 2016 election.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Upon arrival, police discovered Sheppard’s storm door shattered and the main door ajar.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
The same district whose tragedy nearly shattered a community, yet set in place the lives — good or bad, right or wrong — and legacies that followed.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Wondering if the talk about using eggshells in your garden is all it's cracked up to be?—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Is tofu all it's cracked up to be?—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP Portland police said in a statement Saturday night that during an ensuing search of the vehicle and building, investigators located several incendiary and improvised explosive devices, some of which had partially detonated.—
Faris Tanyos,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
-
The posture changed dramatically in 1995 when Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb next to a federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 167 people.—
Neil Flanagan,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Plant life may manifest at your table scorched, deep-fried, pickled, smoked, stuffed, smashed or otherwise pushed to extremes.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Windows were smashed and an ATM was stolen at an overnight break-in at the Beetle Bar and Grill in Chicago's Ukrainian Village neighborhood.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The Bills-Lions game was just one of the matchups announced Monday ahead of the NFL’s full schedule release on Thursday.—
Amos Morale III,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
-
Only two other finalists had been announced as of Monday, one from Nassau County and the other from Walton County.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
As of Sunday evening, traffic was snarled at Robertson Boulevard and Burton Way, which is on the border between Beverly Hills and the Los Angeles neighborhood of Beverly Grove.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
-
Speaking at a press conference Monday, Beere vowed to track down anyone who escaped officers during their sweeping takedown, which snarled traffic along the bridge.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blew up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blew%20up. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
