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
The brand is blowing up for its bold designs, playful colorways, and the distinct versatility of its catalog.
—
Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2025
Surely Putin was in a panic at that point, for had NATO even threatened to take any action—such as blowing up the Kursk bridge and thereby trapping his army in Ukraine—he would have been left with the choice of surrender or all-out intercontinental nuclear war.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
Proving out reusability remains contingent on the rocket not blowing up on a regular basis.
—Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Back at Cousins Beach, Jeremiah is blowing up at anyone who tries to support him following the wedding cancellation.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Tears are blowing up in my eyes.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
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
Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2025
Surely Putin was in a panic at that point, for had NATO even threatened to take any action—such as blowing up the Kursk bridge and thereby trapping his army in Ukraine—he would have been left with the choice of surrender or all-out intercontinental nuclear war.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
Proving out reusability remains contingent on the rocket not blowing up on a regular basis.
—Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Back at Cousins Beach, Jeremiah is blowing up at anyone who tries to support him following the wedding cancellation.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Tears are blowing up in my eyes.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowing up
Verb
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At the same time, lawmakers had capped the agency’s administrative funding just as tens of millions of Baby Boomers were aging into retirement, exploding Social Security’s rolls.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
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This upgrade requires packs to withstand thermal runaway without igniting or exploding.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Despite the ongoing discourse of economic slowdown, tariff threats and interest rate concerns, the richest Americans are shattering wealth records.—
Forbes Press Releases,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The result is nonetheless shattering, for the characters and the audience.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
-
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
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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
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Shoplifting became a political lighting rod, and videos of thieves smashing store windows and grabbing merchandise rocketed across the news and social media as a symbol of a breakdown across cities.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
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While Bills Mafia holds dear traditions like smashing into tables and dousing a superfan in condiments before games, the group also developed a philanthropic bent.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
6 Sep. 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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An image taken on August 19 shows Israeli excavators and bulldozers demolishing buildings in Zeitoun.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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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
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 13 Sep. 2025.
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