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
True to its name, Swift is designed to pivot quickly to capture late-breaking astronomical events such as gamma ray bursts and exploding stars.
—
Marcia Dunn,
Fortune,
28 June 2026
Old Herald clippings from 1986 reported about homeowners’ toilets and sinks smelling like gas, a 3-year-old getting rashes and fevers from drinking the well water and fear of dryers exploding.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2026
The crisis started after officials responded to GKN’s Garden Grove facility on May 21 and soon realized a volatile chemical tank was at risk of exploding or causing a major spill.
—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
While Bonnaroo had many big moments, like lasers or fireworks exploding over the crowd, what made the experience worthwhile was all the small magic moments that accumulated throughout the four-day festival.
—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 2026
Prosecutors say the blaze allegedly started by Rinderknecht smoldered underground for days before exploding into the wildfire that killed 12 people, destroyed thousands of structures across Los Angeles County, and burned more than 23,000 acres.
—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
26 June 2026
Unfortunately, sometimes winning the lottery also comes with exploding pipes.
—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
Pai saw how the industry was exploding, how brands such as Maui and Son, Gotcha and Quiksilver were flying off the shelves, inventory gone after the weekend.
—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
21 June 2026
Another survey will prompt the telescope to observe one specific region every five days over the course of two years to learn more about objects within the cosmos that change over time, such as exploding stars.
—
Eleanor Jacobs,
PEOPLE,
21 June 2026
Marcia Dunn,
Fortune,
28 June 2026
Old Herald clippings from 1986 reported about homeowners’ toilets and sinks smelling like gas, a 3-year-old getting rashes and fevers from drinking the well water and fear of dryers exploding.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2026
The crisis started after officials responded to GKN’s Garden Grove facility on May 21 and soon realized a volatile chemical tank was at risk of exploding or causing a major spill.
—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
While Bonnaroo had many big moments, like lasers or fireworks exploding over the crowd, what made the experience worthwhile was all the small magic moments that accumulated throughout the four-day festival.
—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 2026
Prosecutors say the blaze allegedly started by Rinderknecht smoldered underground for days before exploding into the wildfire that killed 12 people, destroyed thousands of structures across Los Angeles County, and burned more than 23,000 acres.
—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
26 June 2026
Unfortunately, sometimes winning the lottery also comes with exploding pipes.
—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
Pai saw how the industry was exploding, how brands such as Maui and Son, Gotcha and Quiksilver were flying off the shelves, inventory gone after the weekend.
—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
21 June 2026
Another survey will prompt the telescope to observe one specific region every five days over the course of two years to learn more about objects within the cosmos that change over time, such as exploding stars.
—
Eleanor Jacobs,
PEOPLE,
21 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploding
Verb
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In one video a drone runs into protective netting at least 50 feet above the target and detonating prematurely.
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Investigators found that Aliji intended to drive a Volkswagen Beetle equipped with fake police sirens and flashing blue lights toward crowds outside the venue before detonating explosives concealed inside a Red Bull can.
Verb
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SpaceX’s record-shattering IPO has minted thousands of new millionaires, unleashing a wave of high-end home shoppers poised to reshape Southern California’s already tight coastal housing markets.
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The record-shattering heat waves in Europe last week and in the western US in March are two recent examples.
Verb
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The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder has shot up draft boards after notching 84 points (29 goals and 55 assists) in 67 games for OHL Brantford, then erupting for another 26 (13 goals and 13 assists) in 15 playoff games.
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Their journey to the World Cup has been uniquely fraught, with a war erupting between the host of their matches and their home country.
Verb
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Some data storage companies have seen even more eye-popping gains.
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Despite the rising beef prices, steakhouses are popping up like crazy across Fort Worth and Arlington.
Verb
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Video and photos shared on social media appear to show the aircraft plummeting to the ground after smashing a large hole in the 108-story CITIC Tower, located in the Chinese capital's business district.
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Also in 2007, Spencer was sentenced concurrently to seven years in prison for choking a woman, slamming her head to the ground, and robbing her of her cellphone, and for smashing into a woman's car and ransacking it, prosecutors said.
Verb
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.
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Royce Lewis slipped an RBI single up the middle in the 10th inning and the Minnesota Twins beat the Colorado Rockies 9-8 on Friday night after blowing a seven-run lead.
Verb
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But everyday people expressed their political outrage time and again, throwing rocks at and demolishing the houses of government officials, torching the king’s ships and forts and, eventually, marching to battle.
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During that 25-day closure, PennDOT crews will be demolishing the existing Commercial Street Bridge and sliding in the new bridge, which has been constructed alongside the Parkway East outside of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel.
Verb
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Best Amazon Prime Day Home Deals Amazon’s home department is bursting with steep Prime Day deals today.
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Always turn off the electricity and water supply line and remove nearby light fixtures when dealing with bursting ceiling pipes to avoid accidental electrocution.
Cite this Entry
“Exploding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploding. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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