exploding

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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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

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3

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 This was the first time a Starship upper-stage survived a flight test without exploding either midflight or upon landing. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Previous flights ended with the spacecraft engulfed in flames and exploding at splashdown — or rupturing in midair. Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 25 July 2026 Balloons float above an exploding castle, a giant peeks from behind the bushes and wizards throw flames in the foreground. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 July 2026 As wellness clinics increasingly capitalize on the exploding interest in the chains of amino acids that promise everything from longevity to weight loss, a Washington Post investigation has found gaping holes in the nation’s regulatory system. Lauren Weber, Washington Post, 24 July 2026 There were signs of maturity beyond his years during the play-offs, when Sooryavanshi bided his time as wickets tumbled before exploding for a 47-ball 96 in a loss against the Gujarat Titans. Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Previous flights ended with the spacecraft engulfed in flames and exploding at splashdown -- or rupturing in midair. Arkansas Online, 24 July 2026 Unsurprisingly, this took a few attempts to get right—resulting in three vacuum tubes exploding. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 July 2026 Ukraine’s Holywater is one of the largest in the exploding vertical video industry, has a content deal with Fox and recently received investment via a $22M capital funding round, the biggest of its kind in the microdrama space. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploding
Verb
  • Brown says the firm also explored investing in an Israeli start-up developing underground munitions capable of tunneling beneath targets before detonating, but that deal ultimately fell through.
    Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 22 July 2026
  • The video shows these drones flying into the Russian positions and detonating their payloads during the assault.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Anna’s colleague Noa Toussaint (CCH Pounder) follows with a video of Max coercing his mistress into suicide, shattering the narrative that bought his freedom.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026
  • Twenty-nine single-family homes sold for $30 million or more in Miami-Dade in 2025, shattering the previous record of 15 homes in 2024.
    Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Lettuce and salad greens have become the prime suspects in an explosive outbreak of the diarrheal parasite Cyclospora, which is surging nationwide but erupting to extraordinary heights in Michigan.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026
  • Their teammates gathered to support them during the derby, a grin perpetually lining Marsh’s face and erupting across Jhoan Duran’s as Schwarber hit homer after homer.
    Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Aschenbrenner and his fund attracted a cult-like following on social media this year thanks to eye-popping returns, with some retail traders looking to mirror his trades.
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 30 July 2026
  • Look for Christopher Robin in the maze before popping into the secondhand bookshop.
    Lea Tran, TheWeek, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Morton kosher salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring often and smashing fruit with a wooden spoon or heatproof rubber spatula, until plums are broken up and mixture thickens to a jammy consistency, 10–15 minutes.
    Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond Medic's smashing victory in the main event, a few fighters made significant statements.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • This typically occurs when a vent is blowing cold air onto your thermostat, resulting in a temperature reading that is too low.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 July 2026
  • The Vikings defense’s blowing a coverage happened so rarely that seeing it during last summer’s joint practices with the New England Patriots felt like spotting an eclipse.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • Western Newspaper Union Building Plans filed with the city show that the project would include demolishing and replacing an existing building on the site.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026
  • Concerns over demolishing the Excelsior Club The decision to demolish has sparked tension with local preservationists and historians.
    Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • Rook’s Rest or Rhaenys on Meleys, bursting through the Dragonpit and killing scores of smallfolk.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Security camera footage shared by Something Fishy Pets on Facebook shows the massive tank suddenly bursting and flooding a large part of the facility as a worker runs to help.
    Hannah Hudnall, USA Today, 30 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Exploding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploding. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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