1
as in detonates
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 shatters
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 erupts
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 explodes
One projectile hits the staircase where first responders had gathered; a fraction of a second later, another explodes at almost the same spot.
—
Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
The gas main catches fire and the house explodes, killing Mirren, Johnny and Gat.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2025
Before our protagonists have time to ponder this, the laptop explodes.
—Time, 21 Aug. 2025
Out of nowhere, Raymond’s head explodes in a gruesome practical effect that would have made Roger Corman proud.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
The bravura centerpiece is the two friends’ destructive brawl in a Hamptons manse, which explodes everything in sight, from an enormous aquarium to the second story window.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 15 Aug. 2025
Imagine instead of bouncing a basketball, there’s a star in space that suddenly and rapidly brightens, like when a massive star explodes at the end of its life to create a supernova.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
Starship explodes on test stand, delaying flight 10 Starship's next flight test was previously delayed June 18, when the spacecraft unexpectedly exploded while SpaceX was preparing it for launch.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Helly explodes at him in very satisfying fashion.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
The gas main catches fire and the house explodes, killing Mirren, Johnny and Gat.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2025
Before our protagonists have time to ponder this, the laptop explodes.
—Time, 21 Aug. 2025
Out of nowhere, Raymond’s head explodes in a gruesome practical effect that would have made Roger Corman proud.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
The bravura centerpiece is the two friends’ destructive brawl in a Hamptons manse, which explodes everything in sight, from an enormous aquarium to the second story window.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 15 Aug. 2025
Imagine instead of bouncing a basketball, there’s a star in space that suddenly and rapidly brightens, like when a massive star explodes at the end of its life to create a supernova.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
Starship explodes on test stand, delaying flight 10 Starship's next flight test was previously delayed June 18, when the spacecraft unexpectedly exploded while SpaceX was preparing it for launch.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Helly explodes at him in very satisfying fashion.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explodes
Verb
-
Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Toussaint is killed in the penultimate episode after Shagan detonates a bomb on Saskia’s computer.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
That embryonic Xenomorph then shatters its container and leaps at Wendy, who pets it gently.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Trump's action shatters this precedent, inviting chaos.—
Dan Irvine,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Gunfire erupts at Minneapolis Catholic school.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Social media erupts with assumptions about psychiatric conditions.—
Victor Petreca,
Time,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Indigo really pops, while the rest are more understated.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
26 Aug. 2025
-
So that’s the first person that pops into mind outside of somebody like Gunna.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Multiple smashes from the Grammy-winning outfit return to the charts in that country as excitement around the final dates of this run commences.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
There’s no time to get your bearings; an EDM drop smashes everything to pieces, then a pained voice croons in the rubble while drunkenly mashing a detuned guitar.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The mechanism blows inert gas across the fusion zone, preventing oxidation during the printing process.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
-
This blows the chamber up like a balloon and forces magma into an upper chamber.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Under this classification, KBI retains them until the business is completed and then destroys them.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
9 Aug. 2025
-
Yet this approach regularly destroys companies.—
Tima Bansal,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explodes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explodes. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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