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
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
Alberto was redshirting his first season at Indiana, while the Hoosiers were blowing up in their first year under Cignetti.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
What’s more, the combo is actually comfortable; of course, that depends on the shoes, but fitted sock booties like hers have been blowing up thanks to their, well, sock-like comfort.
—Eva Thomas, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
What about destroying the stockpile by blowing up the canisters?
—Sheena Samu, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Since the early days of the pandemic — which is when many Stationerycore fans and creators at the festival date their stationery awakening — the stationery industry has been steadily expanding, even blowing up.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
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
Alberto was redshirting his first season at Indiana, while the Hoosiers were blowing up in their first year under Cignetti.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
What’s more, the combo is actually comfortable; of course, that depends on the shoes, but fitted sock booties like hers have been blowing up thanks to their, well, sock-like comfort.
—Eva Thomas, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
What about destroying the stockpile by blowing up the canisters?
—Sheena Samu, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Since the early days of the pandemic — which is when many Stationerycore fans and creators at the festival date their stationery awakening — the stationery industry has been steadily expanding, even blowing up.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowing up
Verb
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Such reactions come despite the drugs’ exploding popularity.—
Robert Abitbol,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
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The professional game is exploding, too.—
Robin Swithinbank,
Robb Report,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Throughout its run, the production has become a box office phenomenon, repeatedly shattering house records and becoming the first show in the venue's 121-year history to gross more than $1 million in a single week.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
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In what was undoubtedly earth shattering news for anyone with a tattoo of a chef's knife on their forearm, the trailer for the Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony, dropped this week.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 May 2026
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.—
Kelly O'Grady,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
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The dogs were confused, not sure whether to attack or run for cover, and Susan was cracking up.—
Sid Evans,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Two Massachusetts men have pleaded guilty to breaking into Harvard Medical School and detonating fireworks last Halloween night, a crime that caught the eye of FBI Director Kash Patel.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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And some advanced mines have counters that will let a certain number of ships pass before detonating.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Suarez was caught on surveillance camera smashing into the Volkswagen Jetta on Amsterdam Ave.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
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Dwight reached out and squeezed my upper arm, pulling me into a bear hug, smashing my face against the rough canvas of his jacket, his gloved hand on my ass pulling me closer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The music is eclectic and often gorgeous, the emotional intensity still capable of blowing all else away.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
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Think of the way the path smells ahead of you, think of the freedom the wind is blowing your way.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The work included demolishing one stand entirely to create the space required to facilitate those media demands.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
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While the Israel Defense Forces continue to dismantle the physical fortress — recently demolishing the largest Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon — the Iranian people are dismantling the regime’s internal legitimacy.—
Liram Koblentz-Stenzler,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Since announcing that Glasgow flights would return, Stevens said, United has been encouraged by booking trends.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
10 May 2026
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Smart’s remains were not recovered in the latest search in Arroyo Grande, the sheriff’s office said Saturday while announcing the search had been concluded.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blowing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowing%20up. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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