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
Ripley was honored for a heroic effort to halt the advance of North Vietnamese forces by blowing up a crucial bridge in 1972.
—
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Navarrette is blowing up right now.
—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
SpaceX has been blowing up Starship rockets left and right, and the space nerds seem to be cheering them on.
—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
At the time, teen powerhouses like Aaliyah, Brandy, and Monica were blowing up the charts and Interscope was hoping Mýa could be their own proverbial cash cow.
—
Selena Fragassi,
SPIN,
18 May 2026
About to hit rock bottom, Peter is therefore oblivious to the +44 numbers that are blowing up his phone, until the caller — a British clubber called Edison (the fantastic Kirby Howell-Baptiste) — arrives on his doorstep.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Now, the Swedish flatpack giant believes its long-elusive obsession is, at long last, blowing up.
—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
The wires are crossing, the cover stories are blowing up.
—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Kimberly Shaw blowing up the apartment building at the end of season 4 is a core memory for fans.
—
Andrea Lavinthal,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Navarrette is blowing up right now.
—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
SpaceX has been blowing up Starship rockets left and right, and the space nerds seem to be cheering them on.
—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
At the time, teen powerhouses like Aaliyah, Brandy, and Monica were blowing up the charts and Interscope was hoping Mýa could be their own proverbial cash cow.
—
Selena Fragassi,
SPIN,
18 May 2026
About to hit rock bottom, Peter is therefore oblivious to the +44 numbers that are blowing up his phone, until the caller — a British clubber called Edison (the fantastic Kirby Howell-Baptiste) — arrives on his doorstep.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Now, the Swedish flatpack giant believes its long-elusive obsession is, at long last, blowing up.
—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
The wires are crossing, the cover stories are blowing up.
—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Kimberly Shaw blowing up the apartment building at the end of season 4 is a core memory for fans.
—
Andrea Lavinthal,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowing up
Verb
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Calm, easy to pilot, and both predictable and correctable on track, the F80 transforms into a snarling monster on the road.
-
Iran closed it, snarling global energy-supply chains, to gain exactly the leverage now being employed at the negotiating table.
Verb
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Pai saw how the industry was exploding, how brands such as Maui and Son, Gotcha and Quiksilver were flying off the shelves, inventory gone after the weekend.
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Another survey will prompt the telescope to observe one specific region every five days over the course of two years to learn more about objects within the cosmos that change over time, such as exploding stars.
Verb
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The brand was already the most searched name on Ulta’s site before the line expanded to the retailer’s 1,500-plus doors in February, shattering sales records and becoming the chain’s largest brand launch ever.
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Ratings from the opening match went through the roof, shattering records.
Verb
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Mark Toothaker, a stallion sales manager for Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, was on the couch cracking up with his wife, Malory, about the whiffed field goal and consequential turnover.
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The dogs were confused, not sure whether to attack or run for cover, and Susan was cracking up.
Verb
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Younger, more far left candidates across the nation, from California to Indiana, are running this year to try and oust older, longtime congressional incumbents — angering Democratic Party leaders.
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But Schnur said the governor likely also has concerns about angering one of his biggest backers.
Verb
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In one video a drone runs into protective netting at least 50 feet above the target and detonating prematurely.
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Investigators found that Aliji intended to drive a Volkswagen Beetle equipped with fake police sirens and flashing blue lights toward crowds outside the venue before detonating explosives concealed inside a Red Bull can.
Verb
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The tension in these tracks are the binding agent for Jane’s fan base — the music is full of contradictions and incompatibilities smashing together that just feel like being young right now.
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Last week, a group of people swarmed Noureddine Bitat's taxi, stomping on it and smashing its windshield.
Verb
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According to the brand, Dew & Light's popularity in Korea and Japan reflects a broader appreciation for scents that feel clean, delicate, and effortless—fragrances that complement your presence instead of announcing it.
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Aviation joined EgyptAir in announcing the new nonstop flight service back in March.
Cite this Entry
“Blowing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowing%20up. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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