blow 1 of 4

Definition of blownext
1
as in to gasp
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty that horse was really blowing after the race

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in to explode
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure a huge crater was formed when the volcano last blew

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in to shatter
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive one false move and we would be blown to bits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6
7

blow

2 of 4

verb (2)

as in to flower
to produce flowers longing for a grassy field in some far-off land where the wildflowers blow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blow

3 of 4

noun (1)

blow

4 of 4

noun (2)

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 blow
Verb
Earlier, the agency reported that crews had observed that the fire was producing flying embers blown by the wind to create other spot fires. Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 29 June 2026 Coach Matt LaFleur faces immense pressure after the team blew a 21-3 playoff lead and finished with five straight losses. Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Noun
The massive turnout for the march, which the government for months had insisted would no longer be permitted, was seen as a major blow to Orbán’s prestige. Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026 The ruling was a major blow to immigrants with Temporary Protected Status, which shields immigrants from countries in turmoil from deportation. Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for blow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blow
Verb
  • Sometimes poetry leaves the cinema behind, gasping for breath.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
  • Zendaya was visibly shocked at first, gasping and clasping her hands over her face, but got into the performance, laughing and dancing along as Holland came over to dance on her.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • Nowadays, Monson de Kansky still keeps busy, whether by managing the Sierra Madre property; spending time with her four children, six grandchildren and cat, Lizzie; keeping up with current affairs and old friends; or, naturally, teaching dance.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
  • Workers were dispatched throughout La Guaira and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent the last few days pulling survivors and bodies from the wreckage despite a lack of heavy equipment and limited guidance from authorities.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Online sales boomed and Nekhala said his business exploded.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 June 2026
  • Software engineers have arguably been the first class of workers to see the technology upend their jobs, as programming tools like Anthropic’s Claude Code and OpenAI’s Codex have exploded in popularity.
    Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Many windows are shattered or boarded over with decaying plywood.
    Susan Svrluga, Washington Post, 24 June 2026
  • Hundreds of records have already been shattered, with more expected as the heat intensifies today through Thursday.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Peterson gave credit to catcher Carson Kelly’s game calling, which required the two getting up to speed quickly without the lefty having thrown a bullpen that would’ve given Kelly an idea in person of how his stuff moves.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
  • Professionals will take full advantage of each upgrade to speed up development, media production, and the heavy lifting required by generative AI tools.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • But in her concentration, Porsha fumbled her words, which made the Faithfuls, who were desperate for a crumb of evidence so early in the game, suspicious of her sincerity.
    Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026
  • With Yerry De los Santos also fumbling a bunt in the eighth, the Yanks tallied a season-high four errors on the night.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • That means Chevy still has plenty to brag about.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 June 2026
  • The old corporate flex of bragging about 80-hour workweeks, where busyness is the proxy for importance, and volume serves as the proof of commitment, is more and more a liability in today’s times.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • After flowering, the foliage continues to photosynthesize and generates energy, which is stored in the roots.
    Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026
  • Each flowering stem adds blooms to the end, so the stems can become long and tangled over time.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 28 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blow. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on blow

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster