1
as in to detonate
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
the building was wrecked when a powerful bomb exploded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shatter
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive
the bomb was so powerful that it exploded windows in several neighboring buildings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to erupt
to develop suddenly and violently
the mayor's latest unpopular decision caused long-suppressed resentment to explode into open anger
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 explode
Parents told television stations their children had wounds from being hit in the head, feet and hands by sharp nails and pieces of exploding objects.
—
NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
Video shows the moment the fire explodes, sending a fireball into the air from the area where firefighters were working to contain the scene.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The secondaries market has exploded in popularity, with transaction volumes on track to top $200 billion this year, up from $160 billion last year, and could reach $381 billion in 2029, according to an industry report by iCapital.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Dozens of beverage chains have exploded onto the scene in recent years offering coffee at steep discounts.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explode
NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
Video shows the moment the fire explodes, sending a fireball into the air from the area where firefighters were working to contain the scene.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The secondaries market has exploded in popularity, with transaction volumes on track to top $200 billion this year, up from $160 billion last year, and could reach $381 billion in 2029, according to an industry report by iCapital.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Dozens of beverage chains have exploded onto the scene in recent years offering coffee at steep discounts.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explode
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explode
Verb
-
In the predawn hours of October 31, FBI agents descended on the Detroit suburb where the men lived and detonated smoke bombs before storming into their homes.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
There are swift, serpentine vines dexterous enough to snatch Dek’s supplies; combustible little slugs that detonate like grenades when triggered; and exotic flowers that swell up and squirt paralyzing darts when something approaches.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Mamdani’s victory places him at the forefront of a global cohort of diaspora leaders who have shattered political ceilings in recent years.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
At Tesla’s annual meeting on Thursday, shareholders voted in favor of giving CEO Musk a gargantuan, record-shattering pay package that could give him stock worth $1 trillion after several years.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Three days after a UPS cargo plane crashed and erupted into a deadly ball of fire in an industrial part of Louisville, Kentucky, investigators are piecing together evidence in a slow search for answers.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Days after he was elected in September, his to-do list got even longer when the Jimmy Kimmel-ABC crisis erupted, followed by the arrival of AI ingenue Tilly Norwood and the Sora 2 flap involving Bryan Cranston.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The Patriots were 8-2, headed for 14-2 and a comeback victory over Atlanta in Super Bowl LI in Houston, where Atlanta blew a 28-3 lead with Shanahan as offensive coordinator and New England won 34-28 in overtime.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In the village of Hula in southern Lebanon, a monument engraved with the names of almost 100 Lebanese killed here in 1948 just after the creation of the state of Israel lies covered in graffiti and smashed to pieces.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Helm smashes some trees and things.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Rachmansky went all-in on what set his company apart, building a B2B model designed to service the growing amount of independent stores that were popping up seemingly overnight.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Even then, the first name that popped up was indeed Kravitz’s.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
During the closure, crews will demolish the Lister Avenue Bridge and the pedestrian bridge at Oakley Avenue over I-70.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The military showed us a map of Hamas tunnel routes Israeli forces are still discovering and demolishing in the area.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
While the football program, which will move up to Class 5A for the next two-year cycle that starts in 2026, has established itself as a perennial playoff team under Startzer, other Nighthawks programs have also burst onto the scene.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Hagan’s initial shot on a corner was deflected to the left wing, and Cusack bursted to the loose ball to flick it in.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explode.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explode. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share