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
Relevance
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
But a couple of pages later, his capsule encounters a meteoroid which explodes nearby.
—
Neil Oseman, Space.com, 14 June 2026
Most newcomers fade out or establish only a small population, but every so often a species explodes on the scene and becomes problematic.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 June 2026
The roof of the central nave explodes with color, its gables decorated in vibrant ceramics.
—CNN Money, 8 June 2026
And then, when the World Cup rolls around, the base explodes.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 4 June 2026
Video shows moment Blue Origin rocket explodes What is the New Glenn rocket?
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, 108 minutes Samara Weaving returns to her breakout role as Grace MacCaullay in a sequel that explodes the concept of the original 2019 thriller — in which Grace is hunted by the family of her fiancé as part of a satanic ritual — to create its own mythology.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 27 May 2026
As Meiko, a quiet single mom with a penchant for knitting like a cheerful Madame DeFarge, Moone embodies Meiko’s optimism, which, as the situation escalates, explodes into an everybody’s-thinking-it-but-no-one-wants-to-say-it, show-stopping monologue.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
Occasionally, when conditions are just right, their population explodes, said Stuart Weiss, a conservation ecologist and chief scientist at Creekside Science in Los Gatos.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Neil Oseman, Space.com, 14 June 2026
Most newcomers fade out or establish only a small population, but every so often a species explodes on the scene and becomes problematic.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 June 2026
The roof of the central nave explodes with color, its gables decorated in vibrant ceramics.
—CNN Money, 8 June 2026
And then, when the World Cup rolls around, the base explodes.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 4 June 2026
Video shows moment Blue Origin rocket explodes What is the New Glenn rocket?
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, 108 minutes Samara Weaving returns to her breakout role as Grace MacCaullay in a sequel that explodes the concept of the original 2019 thriller — in which Grace is hunted by the family of her fiancé as part of a satanic ritual — to create its own mythology.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 27 May 2026
As Meiko, a quiet single mom with a penchant for knitting like a cheerful Madame DeFarge, Moone embodies Meiko’s optimism, which, as the situation escalates, explodes into an everybody’s-thinking-it-but-no-one-wants-to-say-it, show-stopping monologue.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
Occasionally, when conditions are just right, their population explodes, said Stuart Weiss, a conservation ecologist and chief scientist at Creekside Science in Los Gatos.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explodes
Verb
-
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
-
Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When a window shatters, your entire home is at risk of collapse or even being blown away.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
-
When a shocking night shatters their fragile facade, both women are forced to confront the cost of control and decide what kind of future is worth fighting for.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The crowd erupts, and Messi will get his curtain call.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
-
Gold is a safe-haven asset that investors gravitate toward when economic and political turmoil erupts, sending waves through the markets.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Greta Lee pops in a casual fit at SiriusXM's Front Row with the Toy Story 5 cast in Los Angeles on June 10.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
-
That said, don’t assume that the pricing that pops up on Google is going to 100 percent accurately describe an item’s value.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The Three Lions retake the lead 2-1 in the 43rd minute after Harry Kane smashes a header from Declan Rice in the net off a set piece.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 June 2026
-
Then the climax subsides for a lovely coda of strings, accompanied by a denouement in which the now casually clad, contemporary-looking singer smashes up her play set in the apartment where she’s presumably been brooding over all this stuff.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Pinkas said that before the war, Iran was isolated under sanctions that choked its oil exports, dealing blows to its economy.—
Pamela Avila,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
-
Both the England and Croatia fans boo as the referee blows for the hydration breaks.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
Verb
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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
Verb
-
An agent that cannot reliably query real-time pricing and inventory, or that cannot preserve brand logic through a checkout flow, destroys the value that luxury merchants have spent decades building.—
Josipa Majic Predin,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
April freeze destroys crops Early on the morning of April 21, temperatures in Maryland dropped into the low 20s after weeks of unseasonably warm weather.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explodes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explodes. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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