blowing up

present participle of blow up
1
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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowing up
Verb
  • Calm, easy to pilot, and both predictable and correctable on track, the F80 transforms into a snarling monster on the road.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 17 June 2026
  • Iran closed it, snarling global energy-supply chains, to gain exactly the leverage now being employed at the negotiating table.
    Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • 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.
    Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 21 June 2026
  • 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.
    Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • 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.
    Danielle Directo-Meston, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2026
  • Ratings from the opening match went through the roof, shattering records.
    Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
  • The university, its athletic department and anyone associated with it haven't done the Red Raiders and their quarterback any favors, either, with people like head coach Joey Maguire and billionaire booster Cody Campbell sounding off on the issue and only angering fans further.
    Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
  • The Star, which also looked into the killing, revealed that Jordan’s associations with organized crime figures, as well as his apparent disregard for angering them, likely contributed to his death.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • In one video a drone runs into protective netting at least 50 feet above the target and detonating prematurely.
    David Hambling, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • 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.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • 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.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • Last week, a group of people swarmed Noureddine Bitat's taxi, stomping on it and smashing its windshield.
    Kelsie Hoffman, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • 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.
    Amanda Le, InStyle, 21 June 2026
  • Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Aviation joined EgyptAir in announcing the new nonstop flight service back in March.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 21 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Blowing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowing%20up. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

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