blowup 1 of 2

blow up

2 of 2

verb

1
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

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
Noun
The president has been seen by critics as siding too much with Putin and over Zelensky and Ukraine over the war, a sense augmented by a testy blowup in the White House in February during an on-camera press event featuring Trump, Vice President Vance and the Ukrainian leader. Ian Swanson, The Hill, 19 May 2025 He’s covered the blowup of a former billionaire’s foundation for underserved students, America’s Richest Families, and how Charles Koch, Phil Knight and other aging billionaires plan to transfer their wealth. Matt Durot, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Verb
Boston loaded the bases with no outs again in the bottom of the fourth after Duran worked an 11-pitch walk against Soriano, blowing up the right-hander’s pitch count and bringing Rafael Devers to the plate. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 4 June 2025 Diddy took issue with his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, dating Kid Cudi and looked to strike fear into him by allegedly attempting to blow up his car. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for blowup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowup
Noun
  • Miami-Dade Fire Rescue pronounced the driver, who was not identified, dead at the scene.
    Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
  • The death shook the Philly music scene and devastated Nowell’s friends and bandmates, many of whom struggle to talk about their friend.
    Tyler Hicks, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • During Mount Etna’s recent eruption, however, the flow was contained within the region’s Lion Valley, per the AP.
    Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2025
  • More recently, Mount Etna has been active in the past few months, with this eruption being the 14th episode since March 2025 after a 19-day lull.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • The move, which the governor said was necessary to increase collaboration and mentorship among civil servants, angered state workers and the labor groups representing them.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
  • Additionally, reports had indicated that President Xi was angered over the transaction since Hutchison did not ask for approval of the deal in advance.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • At the same moment, Paul presses the button on a remote and detonates a bomb in O’Hara’s office, killing his men there.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 1 June 2025
  • An attacker opened fire on the Israeli Consulate in Munich in September, and two months later grenades were detonated near the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen.
    Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Two weeks ago, vandals threw bricks through the front office window, smashing a few items inside.
    Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
  • Summer McIntosh’s super summer The Canadian swimming phenom made history for the second time in three days by smashing a decade-old record in the 200m individual medley.
    Jade Walker, CNN Money, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • The audience is too, repeatedly cracking up during a 25th anniversary screening and reunion Q&A at the Tribeca Festival Saturday.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 June 2025
  • Finishing each other’s sentences, cracking up at the same things, going off on (heartwarming!) tangents, sharing the splash of extra wine the waiter pours, asking me interesting questions.
    Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • The chute opens, and rambunctious No. 2 bursts out with an impatient huff.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Volunteers were charged around 25 cents per huff, bringing in good profit for those who’d invested in the necessary gas tanks, tubes, and breathing bags.
    Oshan Jarow, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Noun
  • Salt Lake has had this huge explosion over the past few years.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
  • So these quests march on even as the crack of explosions grows louder.
    Carole V. Bell, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Blowup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowup. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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