1
as in flaring (up)
to become very angry
she blew up at everybody after a very long and very bad day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exploding
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 shattering
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 cracking 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 blowing up
Now my parents can log in, scroll to their hearts’ content, and comment on their grandchild’s latest antics without blowing up my phone.
—
Daphne Wilder, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Ned pushes a big red button at the end of the press to see what happens, and nothing does — but then his phone starts blowing up with staffers volunteering to pitch in on his new local reporting initiative.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
Tears are blowing up in my eyes.
—EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Energy consumption is blowing up and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.
—Anand Rao, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2025
Red Sox Twitter was blowing up with fans electronically screaming at Breslow to wake the hell up and do something — anything.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Daphne Wilder, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Ned pushes a big red button at the end of the press to see what happens, and nothing does — but then his phone starts blowing up with staffers volunteering to pitch in on his new local reporting initiative.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
Tears are blowing up in my eyes.
—EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Energy consumption is blowing up and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.
—Anand Rao, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2025
Red Sox Twitter was blowing up with fans electronically screaming at Breslow to wake the hell up and do something — anything.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowing up
Verb
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The president’s post was accompanied by a black and white video apparently taken with night vision equipment of a fast boat traveling with a number of occupants before suddenly exploding and bursting into flames.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
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One group is connected to solar flares exploding from small regions of the sun, while the other population is connected to larger, more powerful outbursts of plasma called coronal mass ejections (CMEs).—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As the table fell behind Cenat, shattering into pieces, the streamer looked behind him, cut the music, and asked his friends to fess up.—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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August made history on its own, but compared to the record-shattering extremes of 2023 and 2024, this year had fewer heat streaks.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Apa and Cline are both cracking up now as Apa drops one more bomb.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Cracker Barrel has changed its logo for the first time in 48 years—and people are cracking up about it online.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Russia will test a new laser system designed to take out mines without detonating the explosive devices, state media reported on Thursday.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Livingston is angry at Shagan for detonating the bomb without his order, but nevertheless takes advantage of the confusion over Abigail's fate to remove her from power.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Police, a renowned English rock band, formed in 1977, looping together Sting, Copeland and Summers for an act that rode the new wave to smashing success through the late '70s and early '80s.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Even the squirles are smashing their bread extra hard.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But the Ravens are gaining on them after blowing a 15-point lead to the Bills in the fourth quarter of the teams’ epic opener Sunday night.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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About 90% of the former Spring Hill Mall is gone and work demolishing the final anchor store set to begin in the next couple of weeks, officials said.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
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After filing the first lawsuit, attorney Katie Steele of Varghese Summersett also sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the owners from removing or destroying tenants’ property from the units, or demolishing the building, and to preserve critical evidence in the case.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Heading into 2026, however, there are 36 gubernatorial contests, with Sabato’s Crystal Ball announcing rating shifts for Maine and Iowa on Thursday.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Sep. 2025
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One woman has drawn worldwide attention after announcing she is engaged to her AI chatbot boyfriend.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blowing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowing%20up. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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