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
Vann instantly explodes, then runs off into the distance, making it across the street before collapsing to the ground where a resident tried to help him with damp towels.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
There’s an intimacy to it in the verses, and then there’s a big dynamic jump, an octave jump between the verse and the chorus, which just explodes into this hopeful, optimistic thing.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
In that kind of disaster scenario, the crew capsule separates from the rocket to save the astronauts, and the rocket explodes into small pieces.
—Charlie Gile, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
Still, as the AI data center build-out explodes thanks to record-breaking investments, which will hit $700 billion this year alone, some blue-collar roles are rising in demand.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Scenic designer Matthew Herman created a rectangular center stage with LED panel lighting by Sammy Webster that mimics the flourescent office lights of the past but explodes with color in a surprise dancing-on-the-tables scene.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The main weapon that the Ukrainians had used to inflict this damage was the suicide drone, which costs about $400 to make and explodes on impact.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Characters will die and the entire lab sometimes explodes, only for things to snap back to normal in the very next episode.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
After a great deal of tense verbal sparring, the suspense explodes into violence and terror.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
There’s an intimacy to it in the verses, and then there’s a big dynamic jump, an octave jump between the verse and the chorus, which just explodes into this hopeful, optimistic thing.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
In that kind of disaster scenario, the crew capsule separates from the rocket to save the astronauts, and the rocket explodes into small pieces.
—Charlie Gile, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
Still, as the AI data center build-out explodes thanks to record-breaking investments, which will hit $700 billion this year alone, some blue-collar roles are rising in demand.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Scenic designer Matthew Herman created a rectangular center stage with LED panel lighting by Sammy Webster that mimics the flourescent office lights of the past but explodes with color in a surprise dancing-on-the-tables scene.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The main weapon that the Ukrainians had used to inflict this damage was the suicide drone, which costs about $400 to make and explodes on impact.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Characters will die and the entire lab sometimes explodes, only for things to snap back to normal in the very next episode.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
After a great deal of tense verbal sparring, the suspense explodes into violence and terror.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explodes
Verb
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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
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Related Stories The film shatters stereotypical visuals of space, veering away from cold and desaturated colors, and using warmer tones such as orange.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
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Security footage provided by Elfvin shows the robot rolling directly into the side panel of a bus shelter, which shatters and showers the robot and sidewalk around it with what appears to be glass shards.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Guardians must protect the Legendary Silver Crystal when a battle erupts with a mysterious enemy during the Celestial Ball and plunges the Moon Palace into chaos.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
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Controversy erupts at Yale as damning letter from legendary coach leaks.—
,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If the bubble pops, economic catastrophe may follow.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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When the right arm pops, the Rams can’t afford to pass him up.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Wark smashes a ball to left field for the Aggies to retake the lead, 7-5.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
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Delivery robot smashes into glass of bus shelter in Old Town on Tuesday afternoon.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Those chemicals, salts and metals have concentrated over time in the lake bed sediments, and they get stirred up into the air when the wind blows through.—
Jill Johnston,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
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As the wind blows between the Moquith and Moccasin mountains, the velocity increases and carries the sand grains from the sandstone.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For those who know the play well, some of Mantello’s choices are most striking, especially the horror here of the famous hotel-room scene with a tawdry lover (brutally played by Katherine Romans), an act born of loneliness that destroys a father’s relationship with his son forever.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Alzheimer’s disease, a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, affects more than 6 million Americans, most of them age 65 or older.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explodes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explodes. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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