explodes

verb

present tense third-person singular of explode
1
as in detonates
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure the building was wrecked when a powerful bomb exploded

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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

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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

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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 explodes Directed by Venice prize-winner John Swab, Copperhead‘s plot is thrust into motion when an undercover drug deal explodes into violence. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026 That explodes into action in one startlingly seedy scene involving a rape in full view of revelers at a hotel party. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026 The truck eventually explodes, seemingly incinerating the T-1000. — ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026 Whenever something or someone explodes in popularity seemingly overnight, psyop accusations tend to follow. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 The accusation rumbles, then explodes locally, drawing in authorities and prompting an investigation. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 Most is in the form of subatomic particles called neutrinos, which carry little energy individually but are generated in vast numbers when a star explodes. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026 Reacher explodes into action, kicking over a table, executing a backward roll into the guy behind him while handcuffed, then redirecting that guy’s tranq gun against the other Men in Black. — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026 That first bump hits Tony with such a rush that the soundtrack explodes with boogielicious disco. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explodes
  1. detonates
  2. shatters
  3. erupts
  4. pops
  5. smashes
  6. blows
  7. demolishes
  8. destroys
Verb
  • If the ammunition detonates after penetration, the explosion is directed away from the crew compartment, significantly improving the crew’s chances of survival.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026
  • After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual.
    — Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of detonates
Verb
  • But before any collective exhale can commence, the mood shatters.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Inadvertently, our entry shatters the glass ceiling, since Georgia and I are the only girls there.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of shatters
Verb
  • Unfortunately, in the real world, bad behavior erupts at high school games — fights and even worse.
    — Jerald McNair, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The violence that has been simmering with the Ploughman now erupts into a revolution joined by thousands and thousands of peasants.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of erupts
Verb
  • Where Saka pops up throughout the 2026-27 season will be particularly interesting.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • When their family's love curse pops up again, the siblings work with their aunts (Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest) and Sally's kids (Joey King and Maisie Williams) to break it once and for all.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of pops
Verb
  • That is less than half as many as the set that produced many of his signature smashes and turned him into a chart-topper.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • For now, Paramount isn’t producing the billion-dollar box office smashes that drive millions of butts into theater seats (not to mention robust sales of novelty popcorn buckets).
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of smashes
Verb
  • Usually a cold front blows through a few days before the dove season opener.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Scirocco, named for the wind that blows through the Mediterranean from the Sahara, is a celebration of all things local including produce and absolutely seafood.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of blows
Verb
  • An $8,000 Ryvid Anthem or a $10,000 Maeving RM1S will deliver broadly similar urban usability, while the $12,500 Zero FXE absolutely demolishes it on power-per-dollar.
    — Utkarsh Sood June 12, New Atlas, 12 June 2026
  • The latest filing demolishes the timeworn claim that DOGE was infiltrated into Social Security in order to responsibly ferret out fraud and overspending.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Definition of demolishes
Verb
  • Among other things, Hinduism reveres femininity through the worship of powerful goddesses, including Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom; Kali, the goddess who destroys evil and ego; and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Laser destroys 11 drones in 10 days US forces have stopped around 300 drones allegedly linked to cartels since the beginning of 2026.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of destroys

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exploded
explodes
exploding
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Cite this Entry

“Explodes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explodes. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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