blowing up

Definition of blowing upnext
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 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 After years as a child and teen star, Moretz comes into her own as the leading lady, expressing an understandably selfish need to explore what could have been, at the risk of blowing up the wedding and her own relationships and friendships. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026 The gap between the fan’s triumphant bald selfie and the trade blowing up was half an hour. Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026 Aritzia opens location at Kenwood mall after blowing up on TikTok. Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Feb. 2026 After blowing up the friend group, Stephen tells Lucy to leave with him and, certainly not to the surprise of Van Patten or White, Lucy does. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026 While waiting for flights to resume, Charli’s character Bethany flirts with the idea of blowing up her life by rekindling a romance with an old friend who owns a flower shop in Warsaw. Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026 Amal Clooney was spotted at the Milan airport in an unexpected travel outfit that had the InStyle group chat blowing up. Eva Thomas, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowing up
Verb
  • But the affordability backlash is on the brink of exploding in another sector of the economy, where the AI boom is already raising the price of consumer electronics.
    Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The deals are exploding all over Amazon's Big Spring Sale, and all of the top computer brands are getting in on the action.
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Martha had a confidence-shattering experience with her previous boyfriend.
    Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Atlanta Police Department During the incident, a stray bullet struck an Atlanta Public Schools bus, shattering one of its windows.
    CBS News Atlanta Staff, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • The camera cut to O’Leary cracking up in the audience.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • No, a restaurant where conviviality flows like a broken water main, and the food is rich, comforting and detonating with flavor.
    Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Some mines are programmed to ignore the first ship that passes, detonating only on the fifth, just so that the mine-clearing team goes through safely and the tanker behind it takes the hit.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • One of the men is seen on surveillance video smashing the front door with a metal object and connecting the ATM to the vehicle using a metal cable.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Particle accelerators like the LHC typically work by firing beams of particles at nearly the speed of light and smashing them together.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The Field of 68 pointed out that each of Duke's last four NCAA Tournament losses came by blowing a double-digit lead.
    Megan Armstrong, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But the grumblings about demolishing the library building have lately become a roaring debate.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Israel’s defense minister said the military would accelerate demolishing homes along the southern Lebanese border and destroy all bridges over the Litani River.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • However, cage announcer Bruce Buffer caused confusion by reading the scores incorrectly, announcing totals that favored Fortune’s opponent.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
  • The Sutter County Central Committee’s money began rolling in after Republican legislative leaders emailed a letter to lobbyists in Sacramento in July 2025, announcing the group would be breaking away from fundraising with the state party.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 29 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 2026.

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