1
as in detonating
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 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
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Recent Examples of exploding
The president’s post was accompanied by a black and white video apparently taken with night vision equipment of a fast boat traveling with a number of occupants before suddenly exploding and bursting into flames.
—
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
One group is connected to solar flares exploding from small regions of the sun, while the other population is connected to larger, more powerful outbursts of plasma called coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Cena came exploding out of the corner with another big clothesline to level the playing field.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Advertisement Maybe that makes Bugonia sound sort of fun—and the movie does contain some ridiculously over-the-top exploding-bodies gore—but Lanthimos goes out of his way to amp up the story’s ugly, brutish qualities.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Like an exploding volcano, the Garnet Fire in the Central Sierra Nevada is sending a pyrocumulus plume up to 35,000 feet, the cruising altitude of planes, and is now producing lightning.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Here are five takeaways from the exploding tensions at the CDC.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 28 Aug. 2025
Just before exploding, one star did something super unusual.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Well, there’s an exploding car, a cheating scandal, a best friend fallout, and a severe pineapple allergy that leads to an… unexpected, and extremely bloody, ending.
—Ana Osorno, Them., 26 Aug. 2025
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
One group is connected to solar flares exploding from small regions of the sun, while the other population is connected to larger, more powerful outbursts of plasma called coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Cena came exploding out of the corner with another big clothesline to level the playing field.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Advertisement Maybe that makes Bugonia sound sort of fun—and the movie does contain some ridiculously over-the-top exploding-bodies gore—but Lanthimos goes out of his way to amp up the story’s ugly, brutish qualities.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Like an exploding volcano, the Garnet Fire in the Central Sierra Nevada is sending a pyrocumulus plume up to 35,000 feet, the cruising altitude of planes, and is now producing lightning.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Here are five takeaways from the exploding tensions at the CDC.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 28 Aug. 2025
Just before exploding, one star did something super unusual.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Well, there’s an exploding car, a cheating scandal, a best friend fallout, and a severe pineapple allergy that leads to an… unexpected, and extremely bloody, ending.
—Ana Osorno, Them., 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploding
Verb
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Russia will test a new laser system designed to take out mines without detonating the explosive devices, state media reported on Thursday.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
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Livingston is angry at Shagan for detonating the bomb without his order, but nevertheless takes advantage of the confusion over Abigail's fate to remove her from power.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As the table fell behind Cenat, shattering into pieces, the streamer looked behind him, cut the music, and asked his friends to fess up.—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
August made history on its own, but compared to the record-shattering extremes of 2023 and 2024, this year had fewer heat streaks.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kīlauea on Hawaii resumed erupting on Tuesday, shooting lava fountains up to 500 feet into the air for over 13 hours.—
Daniel Orton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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While on the Croisette, the producers got an alert about volcanoes erupting in Iceland.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Thomas dove in and swam with Malibu, popping up simultaneously from the water and resting their extremities — his arms, her fins — on the edge of the pool.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
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Watch parties of dubious legality for this weekend’s finale are popping up at bars around America, but think how much revenue could be captured if someone was able to charge us to watch this.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Police, a renowned English rock band, formed in 1977, looping together Sting, Copeland and Summers for an act that rode the new wave to smashing success through the late '70s and early '80s.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
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Even the squirles are smashing their bread extra hard.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But the Ravens are gaining on them after blowing a 15-point lead to the Bills in the fourth quarter of the teams’ epic opener Sunday night.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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About 90% of the former Spring Hill Mall is gone and work demolishing the final anchor store set to begin in the next couple of weeks, officials said.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
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After filing the first lawsuit, attorney Katie Steele of Varghese Summersett also sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the owners from removing or destroying tenants’ property from the units, or demolishing the building, and to preserve critical evidence in the case.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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An affectionate little cat with a heart bursting with love for humans is looking for a home at a Texas shelter.—
TJ Macias,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Sep. 2025
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The novel sparkles with Sosa’s signature wit and sense of humor; the banter between Javi and Mari is deliciously funny, bursting with laugh-out-loud moments on seemingly every other page.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exploding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploding. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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