1
as in scene
an outburst or display of excited anger
the boss had another blowup when someone fouled up the copy machine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to anger
to become very angry
she blew up at everybody after a very long and very bad day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to detonate
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 to smash
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 to crack 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 blowup
Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Despite their struggles, the Twins avoided high-profile blowups aside from one involving Jax and Baldelli on July 30, one the reliever has since downplayed multiple times.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
John Archibald, New Yorker, 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
See All Example Sentences for blowup
Noun
No big credit red flags, though corporate credit spreads are up off their lows in recent weeks and the nagging questions about a couple of private-debt blowups are on repeat.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Despite their struggles, the Twins avoided high-profile blowups aside from one involving Jax and Baldelli on July 30, one the reliever has since downplayed multiple times.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
Creswell has spent decades trying to understand the blind fury that would drive someone to blow up strangers.
—John Archibald, New Yorker, 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
See All Example Sentences for blowup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowup
Noun
-
Filler shots of chauffeurs, champagne and colossal walk-in closets with pristine designer clobber glistening and gleaming from glass shelves centred around trays and trays of priceless jewels assault the viewer’s senses between almost every scene.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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Behind the scenes, Brockman reportedly helped shape OpenAI’s corporate restructuring into a Public Benefit Corporation, announced last week, a move that enables the company to raise even more capital.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Whereas Balle’s first two books are inward and meditative, her third witnesses an eruption of politics.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In 2022, debris from an underwater volcanic eruption severed the island's only subsea communication cable, cutting the island off from the rest of the world.—
Magdalena Petrova,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement has angered many Americans by wearing masks while on duty, attacking peaceful protesters and arresting mostly people with no criminal record.—
Tom Roland,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
-
There are swift, serpentine vines dexterous enough to snatch Dek’s supplies; combustible little slugs that detonate like grenades when triggered; and exotic flowers that swell up and squirt paralyzing darts when something approaches.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Within a few years of leaving Texas, Rauschenberg had upended everything the place had meant to him, smashing through the parochialism of small-town Southern life, where necks were broken in Jesus’ name, and families indentured or murdered.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Mantis shrimps can safely smash open clam shells with their claws.—
Carl Zimmer,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Leslie Jones once cracked up everyone at Saturday Night Live, including the top dog of the show.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The two of us crack up, that this is where Jesus Land has taken her, having this conversation with someone so near her kids’ age.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Lloyd evaded a diving Mahomes, Kareem Hunt and a streaking Tyquan Thornton for a huff-and-puff 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Kemp looked at the ceiling and blew a huff of air when Schwartz announced the sentence.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Local media also reported that several explosions were heard before the fire began.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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Jonathan Taylor’s offensive explosion helped push the Indianapolis Colts past the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in the first NFL regular-season game in Berlin, 31-25, in overtime.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blowup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowup. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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