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
In such a case, any adjustment to that initial arrangement, no matter how small, would prevent the fluid from blowing up.
—
Quanta Magazine, 9 Jan. 2026
Of course, the committee wouldn’t normally award the prize to someone who has been blowing up small, allegedly drug-running fishing boats, killing the people in them.
—Merrill Matthews, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Still, Kraft briefly thought back to that 2019 game and what Vrabel might bring to his team and considered blowing up a plan several years in the making.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The brand is blowing up for its bold designs, playful colorways, and the distinct versatility of its catalog.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
That’s why the Springsteen arguments are blowing up like the Chicken Man.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
Since then, her phone has been blowing up.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Some of my WhatsApp chats were blowing up as family and friends who were also on tenterhooks constantly posted pics and videos.
—Grace White, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
In 1996, Independence Day caused a stir with a Super Bowl spot that showed an alien ship blowing up the White House.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Quanta Magazine, 9 Jan. 2026
Of course, the committee wouldn’t normally award the prize to someone who has been blowing up small, allegedly drug-running fishing boats, killing the people in them.
—Merrill Matthews, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Still, Kraft briefly thought back to that 2019 game and what Vrabel might bring to his team and considered blowing up a plan several years in the making.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The brand is blowing up for its bold designs, playful colorways, and the distinct versatility of its catalog.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
That’s why the Springsteen arguments are blowing up like the Chicken Man.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
Since then, her phone has been blowing up.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Some of my WhatsApp chats were blowing up as family and friends who were also on tenterhooks constantly posted pics and videos.
—Grace White, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
In 1996, Independence Day caused a stir with a Super Bowl spot that showed an alien ship blowing up the White House.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowing up
Verb
-
The overlapping relationships between the three, heightened by external narratives in the press and online, fester in isolation, eventually exploding into tragedy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Yoo thinks the company lost momentum after the 2016 Galaxy Note 7 crisis, when exploding batteries forced a massive recall.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Yet for all of Malinin’s athleticism and his Beamonesque ability to take flight what has been most telling in what has already been a world record-shattering Olympic season has been the maturity of his skating, the willingness to take emotional risks in his programs.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Bana and Rocha were among the 615 participants in the 27th annual Waukegan Polar Bear Plunge on Thursday at the Waukegan Municipal Beach, shattering the record of 540 set in 2024, and collectively raising more than $20,000 for Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Viewer Reactions The TikTok video left viewers cracking up, and as of Tuesday, the clip had amassed over 526,000 views and 48,600 views.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
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Later, as the film plays, the crowd bursts intermittently into laughter, cracking up at the clown-car quality of everyone piling into the van for the first time.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Two Massachusetts men arrested in connection with an explosion Saturday at Harvard University are accused of detonating a firework inside a laboratory locker in a medical building, federal authorities said Tuesday.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Poseidon had been described as a doomsday weapon that is designed to create a massive radioactive tsunami by detonating near coastal targets.—
Abhishek Bhardwaj,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
As Hodges stood there, scared and vulnerable, the man grabbed his baton and bashed him on the head with it, rupturing his lip and smashing his skull.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The man accused of smashing windows on Vice President JD Vance's home with a hammer is facing separate prosecutions in state and federal court.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Somehow, this new sensation emitted an awareness of the magnitude in which skateboarding would warp my life, which only ratcheted up the anxiety of blowing it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The move came after the Office of County Administration released December cost estimates for demolishing the building and renovating it.—
John Lomax V,
Houston Chronicle,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Fully reopening Leetsdale Drive is contingent on demolishing parts of the charred apartment complex that are still standing, Murphy said.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Presenter Hailee Steinfeld made her first red carpet appearance since announcing she and husband Josh Allen were expecting their first child together in a baby pink dress with a small train and Repossi jewelry.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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Anticipating the arrival of letters has become part of the rhythm of Helen’s day, part of the light shifting across the kitchen floor and the cuckoo of her wooden clock announcing every hour.—
Sadia Shepard,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blowing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowing%20up. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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