1
as in scene
an outburst or display of excited anger
the boss had another blowup when someone fouled up the copy machine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to anger
to become very angry
she blew up at everybody after a very long and very bad day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to detonate
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 to smash
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 to crack 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 blowup
Emily Nicolle, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
In under five minutes, Dismukes and Padilla speed-run through their entire relationship, from meet-cute to consummation (in Jost’s office, obviously) to the inevitable blowup.
—Charu Sinha, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2025
Oriana Van Praag, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
One of those blew up on its landing attempt while another was purposefully expended to get its payload to a higher orbital insertion.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blowup
Noun
But with no obvious blowups or scandals this time, some traders think the current drop is more about technicals and confidence than systemic cracks.
—Emily Nicolle, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
In under five minutes, Dismukes and Padilla speed-run through their entire relationship, from meet-cute to consummation (in Jost’s office, obviously) to the inevitable blowup.
—Charu Sinha, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
Eight of the structure’s sixteen apartments had been destroyed, their side walls blown up.
—Oriana Van Praag, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
One of those blew up on its landing attempt while another was purposefully expended to get its payload to a higher orbital insertion.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blowup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowup
Noun
-
Photos and video from the scene showed a Honda Pilot with a bullet hole in the windshield.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Investigators identified the driver who left the scene as Shaina Renee Dallachiesa, 37, of Marion, Virginia.—
Mark Price
January 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps a cataclysm—an earthquake, a volcanic eruption—had driven those people away.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The eight main islands were formed by eruptions, landslides and erosion over thousands of years.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Opposition to the war grew in Australia along with the Palestinian death toll, and last September the government angered Israeli leaders by supporting other like-minded Western nations, including Canada and the United Kingdom, by formally recognizing Palestinian statehood.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Republican senators, who were responding to the revelation subpoenas of members’ phone records by former special counsel Jack Smith in his 2020 election probe, had previously blindsided and angered the House by including that provision in a bill to end the historic government shutdown.—
Sudiksha Kochi,
The Hill,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Gemma then detonates the device.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
-
On Unknown Pleasures, the producer had taken Joy Division’s dense goth-punk sound into a frozen field and detonated it.—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The third-grade children were traveling back to Yeshivat Noam Jewish day school in Paramus after a class trip to the Liberty Science Center when a large rock smashed through the bus window, the school previously told Fox News Digital.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Masked thieves jumped out and used trash cans, crowbars and hammers to smash every showcase, Ramzy Tabello, the owner, told freelance news videographer OC Hawk.—
Ryanne Mena,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The camera cut to O’Leary cracking up in the audience.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Even professional designers have had to learn the hard way that some types of furniture pieces aren't all they're cracked up to be.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
As much as Payton bristles about media storylines and huffs about tempo questions, the Broncos went 25 minutes without a first down against Las Vegas.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
22 Nov. 2025
-
After 36 minutes of cagey huff-and-puff, Arsenal’s clean-sheet record was spoiled again in game nine of their run, though, as in 1903, their undefeatedness in that stretch was to remain intact.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Video footage that appeared to be taken at the scene captured loud blasts and the sky glowing following explosions that began around midnight and lasted about two hours in the area of Diori Hamani International Airport.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
-
An explosion was reported at a metal fabricating plant on Thursday night in Pennsylvania, according to officials.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blowup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowup. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
