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
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
Warner had already made his presence felt early, blowing up a screen pass for a 2-yard loss on Tampa Bay’s initial possession.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Start by blowing up a few balloons, then cover it with glue using a brush, and wrap the yarn around it.
—Ellen Sturm Niz, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
Some people are like that; thick people blowing up the world.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
There was the challenge spit take, and then back at camp she unfortunately got caught on camera blowing up chunks.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
After three seasons of blowing up the patriarchy from the inside, the women finally get their seat at the table.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Scientists suggest blowing up asteroid with nuclear weapons For that reason, the researchers put forth a number of plans for scientists to prevent a collision – the most extreme of which is to launch a bunch of nukes at the asteroid.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
The account that had impersonated him, after blowing up on @joma_gc, deactivated and removed all of its information from the page.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Thomas Friedman, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
Warner had already made his presence felt early, blowing up a screen pass for a 2-yard loss on Tampa Bay’s initial possession.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Start by blowing up a few balloons, then cover it with glue using a brush, and wrap the yarn around it.
—Ellen Sturm Niz, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
Some people are like that; thick people blowing up the world.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
There was the challenge spit take, and then back at camp she unfortunately got caught on camera blowing up chunks.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
After three seasons of blowing up the patriarchy from the inside, the women finally get their seat at the table.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Scientists suggest blowing up asteroid with nuclear weapons For that reason, the researchers put forth a number of plans for scientists to prevent a collision – the most extreme of which is to launch a bunch of nukes at the asteroid.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
The account that had impersonated him, after blowing up on @joma_gc, deactivated and removed all of its information from the page.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowing up
Verb
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Meanwhile, former Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle combined for 239 total yards for the Panthers (183 rushing, 56 receiving) a week after exploding for 234 total yards (206 rushing, 28 receiving) in a win over Miami.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Oct. 2025
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The suits are never mentioned again, even as Robinson tells elaborate stories about TK Jewelers selling him an exploding watch and L&L Limos using a black piece of plywood to divide the car in half and sell the back of his limo to a guy with a Super Bowl ring.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Two men left and fired into the restaurant from the outside, shattering windows and striking two teenagers.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Oct. 2025
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The crash’s giddy prequel, dramatic unfolding, and shattering aftermath—the Great Depression—has long provided compelling material for writers.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
13 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
Verb
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In July 2011, a Norwegian neo-Nazi went on a rampage, detonating a bomb in Oslo, Norway, before opening fire at a Labour Party youth camp on nearby Utoya Island.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
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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
Verb
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Balmer reportedly scaled a wall outside the mansion in Harrisburg before smashing windows, throwing homemade incendiary devices and eventually entering himself.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
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The Vultee aircraft completed a flight from Los Angeles to New York in 11 hours and 34 minutes and 16 seconds, smashing the existing record of 12 hours for that distance.—
Stuart Dyos,
Nashville Tennessean,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Raking, blowing, and using a mower collection bag are useful for managing leaves on turf.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
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Maybe Lewis wasn’t blowing smoke but telling the truth.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Barner holds his arms parallel to the ground and swings them side to side while slowly stomping forward like Godzilla demolishing a city.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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Often, demolishing a former shopping mall can be easier for builders who might then decide to build luxury housing that does not address the current affordability crisis.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And management has responded — though not in the way shareholders expected — announcing a merger with coffee and tea company JDE Peet’s, followed by a separation of the beverage and coffee assets, now including both Keurig and Peet’s in the coffee business.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
18 Oct. 2025
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The newest batch of openings follows Ernie Herrman, CEO of TJX Companies, announcing in May 2024 a goal of opening at least 1,300 additional locations globally across the TJX portfolio of stores.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blowing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowing%20up. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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