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
Today, the worldwide launch rate has risen to roughly 125 launches annually, with the number exploding in 2018.
—
David Szondy
may 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2026
In 2025, a capacity crowd was exploding for her, the biggest star in the sport, triumphing on one of its biggest stages once again.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 May 2026
During sentencing, Baskin dismissed the argument that the devices were used for purposes such as exploding targets and fireworks.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2026
The upper stage had a much longer flight, using its own six Raptor engines to fly halfway around the world before landing and exploding in the Indian Ocean.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Also, amid a surge in Hezbollah attacks with exploding drones, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli military will expand the scope of its attacks against Hezbollah.
—Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
The messaging ignored the exploding cost of gas, but noted that the price of eggs, school supplies and butter was down significantly over last year.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Los Alamitos is less than four miles from GKN Aerospace, the facility where crews have been working since Friday to try to keep the overheating storage tank from exploding or cracking.
—Kevin Modesti, Oc Register, 23 May 2026
Babies being lifted like trophies, lampposts climbed and fireworks exploding – and all of this on a Tuesday night when Arsenal hadn’t even been playing.
—Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
David Szondy
may 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2026
In 2025, a capacity crowd was exploding for her, the biggest star in the sport, triumphing on one of its biggest stages once again.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 May 2026
During sentencing, Baskin dismissed the argument that the devices were used for purposes such as exploding targets and fireworks.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2026
The upper stage had a much longer flight, using its own six Raptor engines to fly halfway around the world before landing and exploding in the Indian Ocean.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Also, amid a surge in Hezbollah attacks with exploding drones, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli military will expand the scope of its attacks against Hezbollah.
—Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
The messaging ignored the exploding cost of gas, but noted that the price of eggs, school supplies and butter was down significantly over last year.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Los Alamitos is less than four miles from GKN Aerospace, the facility where crews have been working since Friday to try to keep the overheating storage tank from exploding or cracking.
—Kevin Modesti, Oc Register, 23 May 2026
Babies being lifted like trophies, lampposts climbed and fireworks exploding – and all of this on a Tuesday night when Arsenal hadn’t even been playing.
—Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploding
Verb
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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.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
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Its material originated during October 1977 sessions at Memphis’ Ardent Studios, where the original lineup — the late Lux Interior, Poison Ivy, Bryan Gregory and Nick Knox — worked with Chilton shortly before detonating the underground rock landscape.—
SPIN Staff,
SPIN,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Those strikes heavily damaged the bases, burying most tunnel entrances under mountains of debris and shattering roads leading to the sites.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
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As the pattern settled in, summer heat finally arrived across the northern tier, shattering nearly 50 records, with temperatures up to 20 degrees above average, Fox Weather reported.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Verb
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But things went sideways quickly, with the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 36 erupting in a fireball.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2026
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Footage of the incident shows the rocket erupting into a massive fireball, sending towering flames and thick smoke into the night sky.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The maximum memory capacity is now an eye-popping 256GB of DDR5, via four SO-DIMM RAM slots.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
-
King Arthur manuscript goes on sale A rare medieval manuscript featuring early tales of King Arthur and Merlin, which has been in private hands for about 700 years, is heading to auction with an eye-popping price tag.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Doue and Dembele also drop into midfield, while Kvaratskhelia is his usual destructive self off the left, rounding off a nightmare of rotations and raw running power that tempts defences out of their shape before smashing through.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
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The attack happened in an area where security forces are usually stationed, badly damaging nearby buildings and smashing more than a dozen vehicles parked along the road, according to witnesses and images circulating on social media.—
Abdul Sattar,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Winds are blowing west at 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2026
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
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The plan involves demolishing the building and constructing a near-replica on the same Beatties Ford Road footprint.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
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Indeed, back in the 1990s and 2000s, municipalities across the country were happily demolishing Brutalist eyesores made to house the poor.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Verb
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There are whales and cacti; birds and deep-sea fish, or fruit and flowers bursting from the same stalk.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
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The gown's intricate design created the illusion of fireworks bursting in all directions, making Davis's look a standout on the red carpet.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exploding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploding. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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