exploding

verb

present participle of explode
1
as in detonating
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 shattering
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 erupting
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 exploding While Schitt’s Creek was completely overlooked by Emmy voters for its first four seasons, landing its first four nominations in 2019 for Season 5 before exploding with 15 noms the following year, Hacks has been an Emmy darling from the start. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 8 July 2026 Plenty of cosmic wonders are expected to be revealed by the telescope, including thousands of previously unseen asteroids, exploding supernova stars and millions of distant galaxies. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 July 2026 Why the movement is exploding right now The numbers are striking. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026 The title poem takes the reader into the crosshairs of war’s violence, exploding euphemistic descriptions of its horrors. — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 7 July 2026 Rather than exploding nearby, these interceptors collide directly with the incoming missile at extremely high speed. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026 Maybe that’s why the repertory cinema scene is also exploding right now. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 July 2026 Flashes from exploding drones and missiles lit up the night, and loud booms echoed through Kyiv. — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 As SkyCal flew towards Huntington Park, dozens of rounds of fireworks were seen exploding over parts of Los Angeles, just minutes after the whistles blew in Estadio Azteca, surpassing the Round of 32 for the first time since 2018. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploding
  1. detonating
  2. shattering
  3. erupting
  4. popping
  5. smashing
  6. blowing
  7. demolishing
  8. bursting
Verb
  • To put it simply—detonating nuclear weapons in space can be as disastrous as detonating them on Earth.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 July 2026
  • Many older interceptor missiles use blast-fragmentation warheads, detonating near the incoming missile and destroying it with high-speed metal fragments.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
Definition of detonating
Verb
  • SoCal’s housing market growth SpaceX’s record-shattering IPO has unleashed a wave of high-end home shoppers poised to reshape Southern California’s already tight coastal housing markets.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • At the very least, the attacks have brought the war home even more poignantly for millions of Russians, shattering Putin’s narrative of the conflict as something that doesn’t affect the lives of ordinary people in his country.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of shattering
Verb
  • The ball in the net, the goalkeeper reacting, fans erupting in the background, and Messi already turning away with his arms raised.
    — Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • Every four years, some of the most iconic sporting videos that go viral on social media capture the sound of cities erupting in jubilation as their national soccer teams score a goal in the FIFA World Cup.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 2 July 2026
Definition of erupting
Verb
  • So when at-home brow tints started popping up all over social media, I was immediately intrigued.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 9 July 2026
  • While the other videos did not offer the timestamp viewer information, fan cams and edits of San’s dance began popping up, going viral yet again.
    — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of popping
Verb
  • Djokovic became so frustrated that he was given a code violation warning for smashing a racket, before eventually hauling himself over the line.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan joined in the fun Friday, serving and smashing with a paddle in a San Jose Earthquakes jersey.
    — Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Definition of smashing
Verb
  • If caught in dense blowing dust, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your foot off the brake.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
  • The youngster then entered the westbound State Route 126 on-ramp before exiting again at Victoria Avenue while allegedly blowing through a stop sign.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of blowing
Verb
  • Djokovic put in a masterful performance against a player who had gone in as many people’s favorite after demolishing the champion of two years earlier, Andy Murray, in the semifinals.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • The redevelopment plan involves demolishing a section of the existing shopping center to accommodate a new 47,000-square-foot Publix grocery store.
    — Catherine Muccigrosso July 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
Definition of demolishing
Verb
  • But with the righty and the Yankees donning stars and stripes themed jerseys, bombs began bursting in the humid Bronx air shortly after Saturday’s game began.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026
  • Behind them, downtown streets filled with supporters waving banners and fireworks bursting overhead—a pre-match spectacle Toronto had never experienced.
    — Shelby Blackley, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of bursting

Browse Nearby Words

explodes
exploding
exploit
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Cite this Entry

“Exploding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploding. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of exploding for Spanish Speakers

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