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
Kate initially split from Williams in November 2023 but the couple quietly got back together a few months later, after love triangle drama involving another influencer, Sophia LaCorte, blew up online.
—
Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Not mentioned during today’s 30-minute results call was the Murdoch family drama that blew up over the summer.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025
Between us and Nate and Greg’s talent, that blew up.
—Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
Instead, Tennessee's gamble blew up in its face.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
Originally free and meant for neighborhood children, the attraction blew up in popularity, so the family took it commercial in 2016, setting up in a shopping mall parking lot.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Cellar’s statement came days after detransition activist Chloe Cole’s characterization of the story blew up online and attracted the attention of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2025
That blew up when Primeau was claimed by the Maple Leafs when the Hurricanes tried to assign him to AHL Chicago.
—Cory Lavalette, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Developed by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in the 1990s, the Norwegian 4x4 blew up recently thanks in part to Rhonda Patrick, PhD, a biochemist and the creator of the Found My Fitness podcast and newsletter.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 8 Oct. 2025
Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Not mentioned during today’s 30-minute results call was the Murdoch family drama that blew up over the summer.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025
Between us and Nate and Greg’s talent, that blew up.
—Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
Instead, Tennessee's gamble blew up in its face.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
Originally free and meant for neighborhood children, the attraction blew up in popularity, so the family took it commercial in 2016, setting up in a shopping mall parking lot.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Cellar’s statement came days after detransition activist Chloe Cole’s characterization of the story blew up online and attracted the attention of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2025
That blew up when Primeau was claimed by the Maple Leafs when the Hurricanes tried to assign him to AHL Chicago.
—Cory Lavalette, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Developed by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in the 1990s, the Norwegian 4x4 blew up recently thanks in part to Rhonda Patrick, PhD, a biochemist and the creator of the Found My Fitness podcast and newsletter.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blew up
Verb
-
Like Francis, Leo has faced criticism from conservative US Catholics and MAGA supporters, angered by his comments on migration and climate change.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Obama’s enthusiastic showings for both candidates was a test of whether his sway over the Democratic Party still remains after his support for Harris failed to boost her to the White House a year ago and angered black male voters who felt unfairly accused of sexism.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Green Wave exploded on offense to take a 35-17 lead over the Tigers at halftime.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has unveiled its second Focus program for the 55th edition, turning the spotlight on Japan’s V-Cinema — the direct-to-video movement that exploded in the late 1980s and profoundly shaped the country’s contemporary film culture.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The strength to sit with what shattered before building what’s next.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Over the years, he's developed a reputation for flying vintage airplanes, even after suffering a near-death plane crash that left his right ankle and pelvis shattered and his back broken in March 2015.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One room cracked up at a vulgar joke about a woman’s behind, while another went for an outrageous and surreal midfilm montage — but each bit was made genuinely funnier by the dozens of people gasping and wheezing over it.—
Robert Rubsam,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Growing up in showbiz isn't all it's cracked up to be, at least according to Shaun Cassidy.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the predawn hours of October 31, FBI agents descended on the Detroit suburb where the men lived and detonated smoke bombs before storming into their homes.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
An additional 1,000 pounds of undetonated explosives were found after the blast and were safely detonated, officials said during a press briefing.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Other Black residents’ windshields were smashed.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Last night, tech giants like AMD smashed expectations on AI chip demand, and Palantir reported another quarter of strong growth.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Energy Minister Abbas Alibadi also announced that water supplies will be cut off on some evenings to refill reservoirs, urging citizens to reduce consumption by 20% to avoid rationing.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The pair announced their engagement on October 5, 2025, with a joint Instagram post of what appeared to be an engagement shoot with photos of Destiny showing glimpses of her new rock.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Traffic snarled as stop lights lie among piles of debris.—
George Solis,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Video posted by Jamaica’s Constabulary Force in Black River, near where the eye came ashore, show snarled and downed power lines, piles of debris and many buildings completely collapsed — all on a street still covered in water.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blew up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blew%20up. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share