1
as in successes
a person or thing that is successful
the movie is expected to be the biggest blockbuster of the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in whales
something that is unusually large and powerful
a blockbuster of a fighter plane
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 blockbusters
On Thursday, January 29, the Preservation Board announced its latest selections, and among them are some modern Hollywood blockbusters, a few Old Hollywood favorites, six different silent films, four documentaries, and the first time a Ken Burns film has been added to the national collection.
—
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
This month’s picks span civil rights stories, classic blockbusters, and new originals worth adding to your queue.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 28 Jan. 2026
The big studios kept doubling down on massive blockbusters even as audiences fragmented.
—Oisín Hanrahan, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
Joseph Kosinski’s big, fun, breathless racing movie, which also got into best editing, sound, and visual effects—proof that no matter how international and high-brow the Academy gets, crowd-pleasing blockbusters never go out of fashion.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
Both studio efforts appear on at least one additional roster, and the blockbusters are on the downswing on each and every one of them.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Consider the low-multiple drug companies like Regeneron and Amgen, the ones that used to be high -multiple but have lacked blockbusters.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 18 Jan. 2026
Stranger Things’ transformation—from a charming homage to ’80s blockbusters to a sprawling transmedia franchise—was ribbed later in last night’s episode, in a commercial parody imagining a string of continuations.
—Erik Adams, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
Camera Cinemas — the independent outfit led by Jack NyBlom, Jim Zuur and Dennis Skaggs — came in, renovated and added four auditoriums and reopened in July 2002 with a combo of first-run blockbusters and independent movies.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
This month’s picks span civil rights stories, classic blockbusters, and new originals worth adding to your queue.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 28 Jan. 2026
The big studios kept doubling down on massive blockbusters even as audiences fragmented.
—Oisín Hanrahan, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
Joseph Kosinski’s big, fun, breathless racing movie, which also got into best editing, sound, and visual effects—proof that no matter how international and high-brow the Academy gets, crowd-pleasing blockbusters never go out of fashion.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
Both studio efforts appear on at least one additional roster, and the blockbusters are on the downswing on each and every one of them.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Consider the low-multiple drug companies like Regeneron and Amgen, the ones that used to be high -multiple but have lacked blockbusters.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 18 Jan. 2026
Stranger Things’ transformation—from a charming homage to ’80s blockbusters to a sprawling transmedia franchise—was ribbed later in last night’s episode, in a commercial parody imagining a string of continuations.
—Erik Adams, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
Camera Cinemas — the independent outfit led by Jack NyBlom, Jim Zuur and Dennis Skaggs — came in, renovated and added four auditoriums and reopened in July 2002 with a combo of first-run blockbusters and independent movies.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockbusters
Noun
-
Historians still debate its successes and failures.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Still, Holland doesn’t dwell on the past – or past successes – too much.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
An aerial survey team of South Carolina wildlife officials have spotted groups of seven or eight whales socializing, something that hasn’t happened in a while, Thompson of Georgia DNR said.—
Kristi Swartz,
AJC.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Humpback whales are known to feed near the surface, especially when chasing schools of herring, which can sometimes bring them close to boats or kayakers.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Stars played Winnipeg physically from the start, with Adam Erne leading Dallas with five hits in the first period alone.—
Lia Assimakopoulos,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Anecdotally, there has been an increase because more games, more hits, more injuries.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The same story played out in music, where AI tools lowered barriers to entry but platform economics still favored a few giants.—
Aisha Alves,
Rolling Stone,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Such giants have been hampered by worries that their stock prices shot too high and became too expensive following their years-long dominance of the market.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Having beaten Rybakina from a similar situation in the 2023 title clash, Sabalenka unleashed a flurry of winners to go ahead 3-0, but the Kazakh erased the deficit and broke for 4-3 before securing the victory to add to her 2022 Wimbledon triumph.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
31 Jan. 2026
-
California should be deeply concerned when hedge funds – not survivors – emerge as the biggest winners in lawsuits with taxpayer dollars on the line.—
Jaime Huff,
Oc Register,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Jurassic Quest This interactive experience offers a close and realistic look at life-size animatronic dinosaurs.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Allies of Noem, meanwhile, have decided that Homan and Scott are bureaucratic dinosaurs who are unable to achieve the president’s objectives.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But beneath his plush exterior and upbeat messaging, Buddy is an insatiably needy, controlling narcissist requiring constant affirmations of the children’s love and filling their heads with terror of the monsters lurking in the outside world beyond the park in which the show takes place.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
-
And the monsters are truly terrifying.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And across his catalog, Springsteen’s concrete lyricism and drawling vocals channel folk music’s titans of protest, Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Whether between film premieres or a post-Sundance reprieve, titans flock to the lodge for backcountry exploits like sporting clays, horseback riding, axe-throwing, and fly fishing — or opt to be whisked off to the private ski lounge.—
Elycia Rubin,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blockbusters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockbusters. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
