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
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Recent Examples of blows up
The compact vacuum even blows up air mattresses and compresses vacuum storage bags.
—
Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
When a snowstorm blows up suddenly and socks in the entire area, Lester and Mike begin a search that soon expands with the aid of local neighbors and law enforcement.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
What's Daryl’s psyche like after that boat blows up, and how is that going to play out in season 4?
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
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
Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
When a snowstorm blows up suddenly and socks in the entire area, Lester and Mike begin a search that soon expands with the aid of local neighbors and law enforcement.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
What's Daryl’s psyche like after that boat blows up, and how is that going to play out in season 4?
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blows up
Verb
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And rents, until recently, had jumped as demand for rentals explodes – because so few homes have been on the market.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
-
After Paul causes a boating accident that kills a young woman, the family explodes.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dousing enemies covered in mud with water shatters their defenses faster than basic attacks, while fire melts ice enemies without issue.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The latest expression that shatters the 140-proof mark comes from Louisville blender Barrell Craft Spirits, and this is one blend of whiskeys finished in Caribbean rum barrels that should be on any whiskey masochist’s bottle list.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
30 Oct. 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
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But even when Carr smashes a model boat to smithereens after a professional rejection or Allura imagines herself going full Lemonade on Chase’s sidepiece, their actions feel divorced from any larger context.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
-
But even when Carr smashes a model boat to smithereens after a professional rejection or Allura imagines herself going full Lemonade on Chase’s sidepiece, their actions feel divorced from any larger context.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Shell announces share buybacks as earnings top estimates.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Trump announces a second strike reportedly kills three people in the Caribbean.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Whatever way the wind blows, that’s the way college sports go.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
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Dolphins beating themselves Mike McDaniel blows a gasket after Larry Borom commits a false start and the Dolphins miss the field goal.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Pull the linguistic thread a little further, and the word pops up as a mark of frustration.—
L. Carol Ritchie,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Not so in Canada, as the Blackhawks star pops up in commercials pretty frequently — including a CIBC ad with none other than Connor McDavid, which seems to be running on a loop north of the border.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blows up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blows%20up. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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