1
as in has a fit
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 explodes
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 shatters
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 cracks 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
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 up
The new $106 million Nike man totally blows up a Titans run to start the game.
—
Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
But if this blows up in Utah’s face in two or three years … oy.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
When Yung Felon’s identity is revealed, his music blows up with billions of streams, and new fans flock to support him despite his heinous crimes.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 15 Aug. 2025
This week, Cardi B has a message for the competition, Chance The Rapper comes full circle and Dijon blows up.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025
Or if some out-of-towner blows up a factory with her stuff in it.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2025
And yeah, his attempt to do so at the bar blows up her parents’ ruse as well as Connie’s commitment to ethical nonmonogamy with Chane — who didn’t consent to Connie forcing him to feel her feelings — but safe to say both of those things needed to be blown up.
—Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
But if this blows up in Utah’s face in two or three years … oy.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
When Yung Felon’s identity is revealed, his music blows up with billions of streams, and new fans flock to support him despite his heinous crimes.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 15 Aug. 2025
This week, Cardi B has a message for the competition, Chance The Rapper comes full circle and Dijon blows up.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025
Or if some out-of-towner blows up a factory with her stuff in it.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2025
And yeah, his attempt to do so at the bar blows up her parents’ ruse as well as Connie’s commitment to ethical nonmonogamy with Chane — who didn’t consent to Connie forcing him to feel her feelings — but safe to say both of those things needed to be blown up.
—Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blows up
Verb
-
Eventually, that moment comes when the artist explodes.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Momo watches from a distance, and the devastation leads her to crush a piece of Nanoskin in her hand, which briefly forms a heart before melting away as her home explodes behind her.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The shift change shatters my sleep like a robin’s egg crashing against pavement.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Most sitcoms that cast celebrities to play themselves go the Thompson route, crafting a character that completely shatters the person’s public image.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Brother Dusk detonates explosives that shatter the cryonic chamber of Cleon clones, bodies raining down in blood and glass, before plucking a single embryo from the wreckage to bait Demerzel’s deepest programming.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The ball smashes into the floodlights, and Hobbs sets off on his victory trot, in slow motion, with sparks cascading behind him like fireworks.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The trend isn’t one-sided either, as clips have surfaced of brides being the ones to start the frosting fight, like in this TikTok video where a bride smashes a piece of cake on her groom’s face.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Gabby perkily announces, sounding like a motivational coach at a weight-loss seminar.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Every Sunday, the chain announces a new collection of cookie flavors, which are only sold for one week.—
Sonal Dutt,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Advertisement Something about the investigation feels off, though—especially once Evelyn blows into the police station like a force of nature, directing officers who hang on her words.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The two Catholic Central League foes went back and forth, trading blows.—
Greg Dudek,
Boston Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Wearing this vest open offers a great little bump to the internal thermostat, while zipping it up all the way pops up the collar for extra warmth around your neck.—
Alice Bennett,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The diversity of his downfield routes pops.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Most of the time, a person’s immune system identifies and destroys these cells.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Flow Space,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Jake and Vince have an unbreakable bond that destroys everyone and everything, but as Law points out, their issues are rooted in their early family life.—
Dana Feldman,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blows up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blows%20up. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share