1
as in scenes
an outburst or display of excited anger
the boss had another blowup when someone fouled up the copy machine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in eruptions
the act or an instance of exploding
the last blowup of the volcano flattened trees for miles around
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blowups
The history of peacemaking – from Kadesh to the Dayton Accords that ended the Bosnian war, to the Belfast Agreement that halted the 30-year sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland – shows that public blowups and threats to walk out are normal stages, not proof of failure.
—
Monica Duffy Toft,
The Conversation,
25 June 2026
Schedule the fight Most blowups happen when one person is already activated and the other gets caught off guard and slips into defense mode—which means no one is actually listening.
—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
11 June 2026
Continue reading … NEWSROOM DRAMA — Scott Pelley fired at CBS News after blowups with Bari Weiss, new '60 Minutes' producer.
—
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Two of those outings belong to Tanner Houck, who gave up 11 and 12 runs in 2 1/3 innings in a pair of blowups last season before being shut down and eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery.
—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
14 Apr. 2026
If Salley had been patient, Craig would have one of his inevitable blowups, and Charley would have gotten the ick faster than Rodrigo logs onto Ticketmaster when Madonna announces a new tour.
—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
But more often than not, the blowups that surprise leaders usually come from something way simpler—the lack of clear direction.
—
Dan Haiem,
Forbes.com,
5 Mar. 2026
And so, as a prelude to solving the Navier-Stokes problem, mathematicians have searched for blowups (also called singularities) in an assortment of simplified fluid equations, such as those that operate in only one dimension.
—
Quanta Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
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
Monica Duffy Toft,
The Conversation,
25 June 2026
Schedule the fight Most blowups happen when one person is already activated and the other gets caught off guard and slips into defense mode—which means no one is actually listening.
—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
11 June 2026
Continue reading … NEWSROOM DRAMA — Scott Pelley fired at CBS News after blowups with Bari Weiss, new '60 Minutes' producer.
—
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Two of those outings belong to Tanner Houck, who gave up 11 and 12 runs in 2 1/3 innings in a pair of blowups last season before being shut down and eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery.
—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
14 Apr. 2026
If Salley had been patient, Craig would have one of his inevitable blowups, and Charley would have gotten the ick faster than Rodrigo logs onto Ticketmaster when Madonna announces a new tour.
—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
But more often than not, the blowups that surprise leaders usually come from something way simpler—the lack of clear direction.
—
Dan Haiem,
Forbes.com,
5 Mar. 2026
And so, as a prelude to solving the Navier-Stokes problem, mathematicians have searched for blowups (also called singularities) in an assortment of simplified fluid equations, such as those that operate in only one dimension.
—
Quanta Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowups
Noun
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Electronic dance music scholars have noted that countercultural scenes have shifted into a global industry, reshaping or erasing local meanings in favor of commercialization.
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The film, a reimagining of John Alan Schwartz’s 1978 film, follows a website content moderator (Ferreira) who becomes obsessed with a series of disturbing videos that seem to recreate scenes from the iconic Faces of Death film series.
Noun
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The hotel staff can help direct you to info about eruptions, closures, and options for outdoor experiences.
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During The Great Dying, massive volcanic eruptions triggered catastrophic climate changes that altered the planet’s entire biosphere.
Noun
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The satellite's primary objective, though, is to observe gamma-ray bursts – events triggered by the catastrophic deaths of massive stars and considered to be the most powerful types of explosions in the universe.
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The observatory has spent over two decades as a sort of orbital sentinel that scans the cosmos for gamma-ray bursts, ready to quickly point itself at the short-lived — but insanely powerful — space explosions at a moment's notice.
Noun
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There have been intermittent outbursts of violence against immigrants since then.
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Police said Poirier continued making verbal outbursts and took an aggressive stance toward officers.
Noun
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David walks out of the kitchen and Moira huffs and takes his spot over the pot.
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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.
Noun
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The women’s assortment spans slim, straight, kick flare, boyfriend wide leg and relaxed straight fits made with stretch denim to 100 percent cotton chore jackets and overalls.
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There were certainly many unsuccessful fits and starts.
Noun
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Brown watched reactions pour in online alongside her husband, Jake Bongiovi, after the finale dropped on New Year’s Eve.
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While bedbugs are not known to spread or transmit disease, the Environmental Protection Agency considers the parasitic insects a pest that can cause other public health issues such as allergic reactions, secondary infections and mental health impacts on those living in infested homes.
Noun
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Or the grocery store, where tantrums can erupt at any moment.
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His social-media tantrums result in real-world consequences, such as the alienation of allies during key geopolitical negotiations.
Cite this Entry
“Blowups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowups. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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