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

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

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 New Glenn explodes on launch pad in Florida The news comes about a month after the New Glenn rocket exploded in Florida, dealing severe damage to the surrounding infrastructure in Cape Canaveral. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 8 July 2026 When the price of doing something collapses, the volume of it explodes, and that is the real news in JADEPUFFER. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 When a massive star explodes as a supernova, the devastation leads to the star's core collapsing under its own gravity to form either a neutron star or a black hole. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 July 2026 Democratic infighting explodes as congresswoman defends socialists from party backlash. — FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 But traipse past the principal’s office, scale a short incline, and you’ll be rewarded with an 80-foot-long mural that explodes with color. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026 As the clogged pipe grows louder, the camera begins uncomfortably zooming in on Rudd’s face until the pipe explodes in Ted's, closing out the episode. — Kirsten Acuna, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Now, their extraordinary legacy explodes onto the stage in CrazySexyCool – The TLC Musical. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026 At the track’s apex Korten explodes in and out of dissonant broken chords against Mark Shim’s angular saxophone lines, an unexpected development that sneaks up on you thanks to Sorey’s sticky, slowly evolving drumming. — Rae-Aila Crumble, Pitchfork, 25 June 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
  • Continue reading … PITCH REPORT — Cristiano Ronaldo shatters 2 all-time records to help Portugal beat Croatia at World Cup.
    — , FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • But now a new ultralight player shatters the silence with an impressive solo tent that not only drops in right around 2 lb (907 oz) but does it at half the price of some of the competition.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 June 2026
Definition of shatters
Verb
  • Gold is a safe-haven asset that investors gravitate toward when economic and political turmoil erupts, sending waves through the markets.
    — Liz Knueven, CNBC, 10 July 2026
  • Even once in a while, from under the ocean floor, hot magma erupts through the gaps and then cools down to form new planetary crust.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026
Definition of erupts
Verb
  • Bennett pops up from his table the instant his last interview ends.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • For whatever reason, the Sheldon Creed incident at Martinsville (in 2023) pops right into my head.
    — Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of pops
Verb
  • Following the Oklahoma style, the team smashes Vidalia onions directly into the beef, making the patties superthin, then tops them with brown mustard, American cheese and pickles.
    — Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • Pele controls the ball in the penalty area with his thigh, flips it over the head of the defender and smashes it past a helpless Kalle Svensson.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of smashes
Verb
  • But their erotic encounter is short-lived, as Joe tumbles and blows his back out while sheepishly dancing to Sade.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • Eleni riding in the backseat of a convertible as the wind blows through her curls.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 9 July 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
  • The technology was developed and tested in close collaboration with a person living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disease that gradually destroys the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026
  • The human contribution that remains is precisely the kind of thinking that fragmentation destroys.
    — Faustino Júnior, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of destroys

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explodes
exploding
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Cite this Entry

“Explodes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explodes. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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