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
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Recent Examples of blew up
Why the Nike Tech trend blew up Earlier this year, Nike Tech fleeces, jackets, pants and sweatsuits sparked cultural commentary with a viral social media trend that inspired young men to trade the casual style for preppy quarter-zip sweaters.
—
Jay Stahl, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Warren has some experience with covering over the past as happened when her phony claim of being a blue-eyed Native American Cherokee descendent blew up.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026
The National News Agency reported that an Israeli force entered parts of the southern village of Deir Mimas on the Litani River and blew up a water pumping station that uses solar energy and supplies the village with fresh water.
—Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 12 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
Jay Stahl, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Warren has some experience with covering over the past as happened when her phony claim of being a blue-eyed Native American Cherokee descendent blew up.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026
The National News Agency reported that an Israeli force entered parts of the southern village of Deir Mimas on the Litani River and blew up a water pumping station that uses solar energy and supplies the village with fresh water.
—Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 12 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blew up
Verb
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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
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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
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Though the use of AI has exploded since ChatGPT was released in 2022, the rise in productivity over the past five years likely cannot be fully attributed to AI.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
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The fire then spread to a nearby dust silo, which exploded.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Upon arrival, police discovered Sheppard’s storm door shattered and the main door ajar.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
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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
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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
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Is tofu all it's cracked up to be?—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The device was secured and detonated by a multi-agency team of operators including personnel from the FBI Bomb Squad, Mobile Police Department Explosive Ordnance Detail, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Bomb Squad, MCSO and the Daphne Search and Rescue Team, according to MAWSS.—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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The attack in Bannu, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, erupted after a suicide bomber, backed by several gunmen, detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near the security post, triggering a shootout.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Price pressures have only increased since the war with Iran snarled tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a spike in the cost of crude oil and gasoline.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
13 May 2026
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But the Fed also followed that approach after the COVID-19 pandemic snarled global supply chains for goods, lifting prices for things such as cars, furniture and electronics.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blew up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blew%20up. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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