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
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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
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Recent Examples of explode
The controversy around the subpoenas exploded online Friday, as employees of several of the nonprofits alleged on social media that the AI titan’s subpoenas are hardball legal tactics that far surpass normal legal action and are often irrelevant to the ongoing Musk lawsuit.
—
Jared Perlo, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025
On Flights 7 and 8, the upper stage exploded less than 10 minutes after liftoff, sending debris raining down on parts of the Caribbean.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
In addition, the second-stage design suffered a failure on the ground in June when one exploded during fueling for a static-fire test of its engines.
—PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025
Soon, the house exploded with activity.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explode
Jared Perlo, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025
On Flights 7 and 8, the upper stage exploded less than 10 minutes after liftoff, sending debris raining down on parts of the Caribbean.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
In addition, the second-stage design suffered a failure on the ground in June when one exploded during fueling for a static-fire test of its engines.
—PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025
Soon, the house exploded with activity.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explode
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explode
Verb
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An artillery shell fired as part of the Marine Corps’ 250-year anniversary celebrations prematurely detonated over Interstate 5 in California Saturday, striking a patrol vehicle with shrapnel, according to the California Highway Patrol.—
Susannah Cullinane,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Two months later, on February 26, 1993, al-Qaeda detonated a truck bomb beneath the World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring more than a thousand.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tessa Ia leads the series as Valeria Goldberg, a young woman in a Jewish-Mexican community who makes a mistake that shatters her world and forces her into a desperate fight to find her missing children.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
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When a prosperous farming family was murdered in their own home in cold blood for no reason at all by two young male ex-cons, the image of a neat, safe, mid-20th century rural American life was shattered.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Cincinnati trailed 10-0 late in the first half but erupted for 20 unanswered points spanning the end of the second quarter into the third before Pittsburgh eventually responded.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Thunderstorms erupting in the South and Midwest to kick off the weekend could turn severe and produce dangerous winds, a few tornadoes and heavy rain.—
Chris Dolce,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Smaller efforts popped up in Greenland over the years, but nothing came to fruition.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
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In a matter of days, tens of thousands of videos have popped up under the hashtag #group7, with many users celebrating their membership.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Thieves scaled the facade of the Parisian museum in broad daylight Sunday, using a ladder boosted by a mechanical boom truck and forcing a window open, smashing display cases inside, and making off with a handful of priceless jewels, PEOPLE previously reported.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Officials said thieves extended a basket lift to a window and smashed it open with an angle grinder.—
Bonny Chu , Ronn Blitzer,
FOXNews.com,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Commanders blew a late-fourth-quarter lead and turned the ball over three times before losing to the Bears on a last-second field goal.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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Sloppy passes, stagnant offense, blown defensive assignments, poor decisions.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And often, that was exactly how forgeries were eventually demolished.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
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On land, the current one- and two-story buildings will be demolished and replaced with 15,682 square feet of modern marina facilities spread across two, two-story buildings.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Simpson has burst onto the scene in his first year as the Alabama starter after taking over for Jalen Milroe.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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About 700,000 years later, the strait burst open again, and a brutal megaflood filled the Mediterranean in a matter of months.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explode.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explode. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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