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
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2025
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
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
The story has blown up across social media and international news outlets.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blowup
Noun
At street level though, Shields’s name is emblazoned in a blowup of a quote about his performance that ran in this column.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2025
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
Verb
Doing so would require the help of at least some Democrats, who've lost no love with their GOP colleagues after House Republicans, led by Johnson, blew up a bipartisan deal the Senate passed unanimously to fully fund all of DHS except immigration enforcement.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
The story has blown up across social media and international news outlets.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blowup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowup
Noun
-
Firefighters were able to get to the scene so quickly, in part, because of the proximity of a fire station.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The sole occupant of the home was assaulted and tied up before the suspect stole several items from the home, including a vehicle, then used that vehicle to flee the scene, according to LeLacheur.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The last eruption of nationwide gatherings in October drew approximately 7 million people, according to their tally.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Aurora chasers will also be getting excited about the prospect of a possible glancing blow from the speedy CME released during the eruption.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Although this was not the first time Ticketmaster’s price surges had angered fans, the controversies reached a new peak just months later when botched ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour triggered widespread outrage and congressional scrutiny.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Fellow cast member Meghan King became skeptical of his symptoms and questioned his illness, which angered many of her costars — including Gunvalson.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mohammad Hossein Fahmideh, a 13-year-old Basij soldier who destroyed an Iraqi tank by throwing himself under it and detonating a grenade belt, is widely commemorated as a hero by the government.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Apr. 2026
-
First, the teams identified an issue with the hardware the communicates with a system designed to detonate the rocket to protect public safety if the rocket veers off course.—
Mathew Schumer,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Littleton police say the driver behind the wheel of a semi-truck that crashed into a QuickTrip on West Belleview Avenue and smashed a car against a wall is facing careless driving charges.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Kayleigh Martin smashed a home run, Chloe Veator drove in two runs in Tewksbury’s 4-3 nonleague win over Woburn.—
Jack Murray,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Is tofu all it's cracked up to be?—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Padilla and Gosling were a teacher and principal in another sketch reading passed notes out loud that, according to text on screen, were swapped out since rehearsal, causing both to crack up uncontrollably.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Among agonized grunts and huffs, Probst narrated the fumbles.—
Sarah Grant,
New Yorker,
2 Feb. 2026
-
David walks out of the kitchen and Moira huffs and takes his spot over the pot.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Days after the explosion, Amin called his mother in Iran again, with better news.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
However, an oxygen-tank explosion 56 hours after launch scotched those plans and put the mission into survival mode.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blowup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowup. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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