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
Zelensky left the White House last week without signing a bilateral mineral deal after a blowup in the Oval Office that dimmed the chances of a peace agreement with Russia. Mabinty Quarshie, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Mar. 2025 Another official said that, had Zelenskyy kept his disagreements behind closed doors, the blowup wouldn't have happened. Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
The song blew up partly because people devised a choreography for it, and a user deployed AI to make The Beastly Senior wiggle to it. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 14 May 2025 The Big Hero 6: The Series actor, who spent one season as a cast member and writer on the NBC sketch series, opened up about how scoring tickets to a hockey game during his time at the show blew up in his face after costar Kenan Thompson had to bow out of going with him due to a family illness. Jillian Sederholm, EW.com, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for blowup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowup
Noun
  • There was the milestone scene where Jack kissed Ethan (Adam Kaufman) in what was primetime television's first gay male kiss.
    Breanne L. Heldman, EW.com, 24 May 2025
  • There’s never a false note from the young actors, all of whom have deeply moving scenes.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • The eruption can also form new thermal vents and offer a place for these organisms to repopulate.
    Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2025
  • Flames coach Kelly Nangle did not seem surprised by O’Brien’s eruption.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Target also said its first-quarter performance was affected by negative reactions to its pullback on diversity, equity and inclusion policies (DEI) in January, which angered some loyal customers who have long praised the company's commitment to inclusiveness.
    Siddharth Cavale, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • Trump was angered by reading reports that Springsteen, without referring to the president by name, had criticized the administration in a Manchester concert.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • On Saturday morning, a bomb was detonated at American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs, destroying much of the building, injuring four people and killing the bomber.
    Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
  • Like many Americans, Dr. Garwin grew concerned when Moscow that summer detonated its first atom bomb.
    William J. Broad, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • The crash came a little over a year after the Dali, a 984-foot-long cargo ship, lost power while departing Baltimore’s harbor and smashed into the Key Bridge, killing six people and destroying critical infrastructure.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • During a Freshman All-American season at Sac State in 2023, Smith smashed 14 home runs and nine doubles to go with 45 RBIs.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • People were cracking up at how this interaction immediately reminded them of two young siblings fighting.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
  • Here, Lauren Houser, vice president of marketing at cleaning solutions company Zep in Atlanta, Georgia, highlights six common hacks that really aren't all they're cracked up to be.
    Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 9 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
  • An explosion of heated coverage followed the initial report, much of it seemingly reliant on police leaks or pure speculation for sourcing.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
  • Fire investigators determined the fire and explosion were intentionally set.
    Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Blowup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowup. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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