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
Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
There were crash outs, blowups, fights over pancakes and some messy breakups.
—Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Thomas Friedman, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
When a snowstorm blows up suddenly and socks in the entire area, Lester and Mike begin a search, which is soon expanded with the aid of local neighbors and local law enforcement.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blowup
Noun
The blowup led to speculation that Vance had deliberately set up Zelenskyy for public ridicule.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
There were crash outs, blowups, fights over pancakes and some messy breakups.
—Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
At the same time, Netanyahu did — and still does — everything possible to weaken the Palestinian Authority, which cooperates every day with Israeli security services to keep the West Bank from blowing up.
—Thomas Friedman, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
When a snowstorm blows up suddenly and socks in the entire area, Lester and Mike begin a search, which is soon expanded with the aid of local neighbors and local law enforcement.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blowup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowup
Noun
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Go further by Set the scene with warm lighting, textured serving trays, and small plates of complementary bites for that boutique cafe feel.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Oct. 2025
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The holiday decor scene is saturated—nutcrackers, gingerbread houses, bow garlands, wreaths, strings of snowflakes, glittery pinecones, and that nativity scene that’s been passed down for generations.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And finally, there’s the eruption of the massive youth protest movement in late 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for refusing to wear a hijab.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
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Geologists believe that the primary trigger was climatic and ocean changes related to large-scale volcanic eruptions in what is today Siberia, Russia.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While one of her first moves — pushing specialized teachers into vacant classroom teaching jobs — angered the teachers' union, the new bonus for retirees was an idea that came from the union president, Ingrid Walker-Henry.—
Rory Linnane,
jsonline.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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This move had angered India, which pointed to China not getting punished despite its role as an even bigger importer of Russian energy.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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An artillery shell fired as part of the Marine Corps’ 250-year anniversary celebrations prematurely detonated over Interstate 5 in California Saturday, striking a patrol vehicle with shrapnel, according to the California Highway Patrol.—
Susannah Cullinane,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
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Two months later, on February 26, 1993, al-Qaeda detonated a truck bomb beneath the World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring more than a thousand.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Thieves scaled the facade of the Parisian museum in broad daylight Sunday, using a ladder boosted by a mechanical boom truck and forcing a window open, smashing display cases inside, and making off with a handful of priceless jewels, PEOPLE previously reported.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Officials said thieves extended a basket lift to a window and smashed it open with an angle grinder.—
Bonny Chu , Ronn Blitzer,
FOXNews.com,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Viewer Reactions The TikTok video left viewers cracking up, and as of Tuesday, the clip had amassed over 526,000 views and 48,600 views.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
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Later, as the film plays, the crowd bursts intermittently into laughter, cracking up at the clown-car quality of everyone piling into the van for the first time.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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Kemp looked at the ceiling and blew a huff of air when Schwartz announced the sentence.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
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This frustration has fueled the explosion of AI headshot tools like InstaHeadshots, PhotoPacksAI, HeadshotPro and Aragon AI, services that promise a professional image in minutes starting at under $50.—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
18 Oct. 2025
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This Isn’t Kittle’s Game Everyone sees that George Kittle is back and expects a fantasy football explosion.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blowup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowup. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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