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
Emily Nicolle, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
In under five minutes, Dismukes and Padilla speed-run through their entire relationship, from meet-cute to consummation (in Jost’s office, obviously) to the inevitable blowup.
—Charu Sinha, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2025
Eva Thomas, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
Bills Mafia has since blown up and become the team’s moniker.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blowup
Noun
But with no obvious blowups or scandals this time, some traders think the current drop is more about technicals and confidence than systemic cracks.
—Emily Nicolle, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
In under five minutes, Dismukes and Padilla speed-run through their entire relationship, from meet-cute to consummation (in Jost’s office, obviously) to the inevitable blowup.
—Charu Sinha, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
Using my spidey senses to predict the trends that are going to blow up in the coming months.
—Eva Thomas, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
Bills Mafia has since blown up and become the team’s moniker.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blowup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowup
Noun
-
Photos and video from the scene showed a Honda Pilot with a bullet hole in the windshield.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Investigators identified the driver who left the scene as Shaina Renee Dallachiesa, 37, of Marion, Virginia.—
Mark Price
January 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Following the dramatic discovery, Walker discovers that the long-ago murder is somehow linked to the conspiracy behind the arms dealer and the mysterious volcanic eruption at Crater Lake.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The activity periodically forms a dome over the main vent, which eventually collapses, causing an eruption.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With an economy that is persistently reliant on crude, pursuing policies that raise energy costs risks angering constituents.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The board instead approved a resolution to reexamine current campus spaces, angering some parents.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
More recently, an al Qaeda operative and suspected mastermind behind the 2000 USS Cole bombing — in which suicide bombers sidled up alongside a US warship, waved to the sailors and then detonated explosives — was charged with perfidy, among other crimes.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
-
In December the group detonated a car bomb in a municipality located along a top cocaine-trafficking route, killing four police officers.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Agents told investigators that one of their colleagues opened fire Thursday after the driver put the truck in reverse and repeatedly slammed into an unoccupied car the agents had rented, smashing its headlights and knocking off its front bumper.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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In witness footage shared by the police, the paraglider is seen falling from the sky with a faulty parachute and spiraling quickly towards the waters below, before smashing into the ocean in front of horrified beachgoers.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The camera cut to O’Leary cracking up in the audience.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Even professional designers have had to learn the hard way that some types of furniture pieces aren't all they're cracked up to be.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
As much as Payton bristles about media storylines and huffs about tempo questions, the Broncos went 25 minutes without a first down against Las Vegas.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
22 Nov. 2025
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After 36 minutes of cagey huff-and-puff, Arsenal’s clean-sheet record was spoiled again in game nine of their run, though, as in 1903, their undefeatedness in that stretch was to remain intact.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Missiles cause a huge explosion.—
Svitlana Vlasova,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Wonder Man’s budding powers in Marvel lore include strength, speed and uh, explosions.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blowup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowup. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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