1
2
as in spends
to use up carelessly
each year he blows his holiday bonus on a trip to Las Vegas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in explodes
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
a huge crater was formed when the volcano last blew
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in shatters
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive
one false move and we would be blown to bits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in rushes
to proceed or move quickly
that car blew past us as if we were standing still
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in fumbles
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
he keeps blowing every job interview that comes his way
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in boasts
to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess
another self-made millionaire blowing about how much he'd achieved
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in flowers
to produce flowers
longing for a grassy field in some far-off land where the wildflowers blow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in punches
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
he was dizzy for the rest of the day after the blow to his head
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in gusts
a sudden brief rush of wind
the ocean blows that sweep over the island are so strong that only the hardiest shrubs can grow there
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 blows
Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026
This doesn’t work for Alice, however, who goes from disbelief to sabotage to an act of betrayal whose wreckage spills out over the series and blows back on her.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
The camera then cuts to the driver, who blows her a quick kiss and flashes a smile before setting his trophy down on the podium and cheering for his fellow champions.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Game 2, Vegas returns the favor, blows a multiple goal-lead; Carolina wins in overtime.
—Greg Cote
june 7, Miami Herald, 7 June 2026
No matter which way the wind blows, Morgan Wallen is standing by his decision.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026
The fuel-saving engine start-stop system is also transparent, and the air conditioning blows ice cold, even when the gasoline engine is off.
—Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
And in a recurring gag, Nate blows an air horn to get people’s attention.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026
Aaronson is another of the manager’s favourites but blows hot and cold in an attacking sense.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Kansas City Star, 7 June 2026
Suddenly, Brooks began raining down blows on Sumner with a gutta-percha cane while an accomplice warded off lawmakers who tried to intervene.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Stewart, a Republican who served for 12 years as mayor before leaving office in November to campaign for governor, has suffered a succession of recent blows from an investigation of spending during her administration by her successor, current Mayor Bobby Sanchez, a Democrat.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2026
Some medical professionals believed that it could have been triggered by too many blows to the head in the boxing ring.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
From there, the two schools traded blows until intermission.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026
According to the coroner, there was evidence of nine blows to the victim’s head and neck.
—Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Washington and Tehran again traded blows, driving oil higher and raising questions over the viability of peace talks that had seemed near the finish line.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 1 June 2026
Inconspicuous blows against Denver escalated to skirmishes.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Verb
As with other members of the poplar family such as quaking aspen, the part of the tree that attaches the leaf to the branch is several inches long, causing leaves to flap rapidly from side to side when the wind blows.
—Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026
This doesn’t work for Alice, however, who goes from disbelief to sabotage to an act of betrayal whose wreckage spills out over the series and blows back on her.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
The camera then cuts to the driver, who blows her a quick kiss and flashes a smile before setting his trophy down on the podium and cheering for his fellow champions.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Game 2, Vegas returns the favor, blows a multiple goal-lead; Carolina wins in overtime.
—Greg Cote
june 7, Miami Herald, 7 June 2026
No matter which way the wind blows, Morgan Wallen is standing by his decision.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026
The fuel-saving engine start-stop system is also transparent, and the air conditioning blows ice cold, even when the gasoline engine is off.
—Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
And in a recurring gag, Nate blows an air horn to get people’s attention.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026
Aaronson is another of the manager’s favourites but blows hot and cold in an attacking sense.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Noun
The biggest blows came from Garcia and Starling Marte.
—Kansas City Star, 7 June 2026
Suddenly, Brooks began raining down blows on Sumner with a gutta-percha cane while an accomplice warded off lawmakers who tried to intervene.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Stewart, a Republican who served for 12 years as mayor before leaving office in November to campaign for governor, has suffered a succession of recent blows from an investigation of spending during her administration by her successor, current Mayor Bobby Sanchez, a Democrat.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2026
Some medical professionals believed that it could have been triggered by too many blows to the head in the boxing ring.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
From there, the two schools traded blows until intermission.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026
According to the coroner, there was evidence of nine blows to the victim’s head and neck.
—Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Washington and Tehran again traded blows, driving oil higher and raising questions over the viability of peace talks that had seemed near the finish line.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 1 June 2026
Inconspicuous blows against Denver escalated to skirmishes.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blows
Verb
-
Another video shows Wallen walking back towards the piano, as the audience gasps and cheers in response.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
-
Agnes gasps for breath as her imagination plays out terrible scenarios that she’s never been given words for.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Set a budget The average American spends a whopping $168 per date, according to a 2025 survey from BMO.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
-
The bitters combine with the hogo to create an entirely new drink, one that’s deeper and richer and honestly weirder, a drink that’s still sunshine-caliber refreshing but whose soul spends half the year in the underworld.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
And then, when the World Cup rolls around, the base explodes.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
-
Video shows moment Blue Origin rocket explodes What is the New Glenn rocket?—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The two commit to a duel, each agreeing to fire their guns when a bottle of champagne rolls off the bar and shatters on the floor.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
1 June 2026
-
This type of error creates friction and shatters trust.—
Jerry Haywood,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
After Amanda rushes off the stage in tears and decamps to her dressing room, West declines to go after her, sitting around onstage like a deer in headlights.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
3 June 2026
-
Preston is a shifty and fast skater who can attack inside ice laterally but can also play out wide and burn for odd-man rushes, and excelled after moving to his off-wing (left wing) in Vancouver, going east-west more on his forehand.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Tensions between the galley and the interior continue to escalate over lunch service, when a radio mishap fumbles the order in which the food should go out.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
-
The movie fumbles the chance to do something arresting with this seminal period in art.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Sacramento boasts a Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, where businesses can register and increase their awareness via the member directory.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
-
And then there is the entire ballot for performers, which boasts one of the largest peer groups of the TV Academy.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
This plant flowers year-round and, like all abutilon cultivars, is not water needy.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blows. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
