blew up

Definition of blew upnext
past tense of blow up
1
2
as in exploded
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure the building blew up because of a gas leak

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in shattered
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive blew up the biggest rocks and then cleared them away

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4

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 blew up One of those blew up on its landing attempt while another was purposefully expended to get its payload to a higher orbital insertion. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026 Though the private military firm has been credited with helping security forces get into neighborhoods and recently blew up the home of one of the country’s most notorious warlords, the presence of mercenaries operating in Haiti continues to make some lawmakers uneasy. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026 These are the exact type of tried-and-true New Yorkers and New York hip-hop heads the Bodega Boys blew up by parodying with their frequently unhinged back-and-forth. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026 Volatility is expected in crypto, but these wild swings have not been seen since late 2022, when the FTX empire of notorious crypto conman Sam Bankman-Fried blew up. Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026 Also known as America’s Sweethearts, the Cowboys cheerleaders blew up in popularity during the 1976 Superbowl halftime show for their kicks higher than their hair and uniform jump-split. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026 Kate initially split from Williams in November 2023 but the couple quietly got back together a few months later, after love triangle drama involving another influencer, Sophia LaCorte, blew up online. Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025 Not mentioned during today’s 30-minute results call was the Murdoch family drama that blew up over the summer. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025 Matt Rife really blew up on the internet first. Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blew up
Verb
  • However, Albanese’s decision to invite Herzog – the head of state of a country accused of genocide in Gaza, a claim Israel’s government denies – has angered many Australians and even led to calls for the visitor’s arrest.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The ruling has angered victims’ families and reignited a public debate over whether someone who commits a crime as serious as murder as a teenager should ever be eligible for release.
    Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Butler started WeSchool more recently, when interest in at-home learning exploded during the pandemic.
    Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The singer stood next to a set of faux power lines onstage, which quickly exploded to illustrate the island's frequent power outages.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Even the random animals — birds, deer, dogs, cats and, at one point, a peacock — the director encounters on her journeys around Negev seem to be shattered by years of bombing.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Pim Neill, a 6-year-old girl from Pittsburgh, shattered the Pennsylvania state record by selling more than 81,000 boxes of cookies, the most ever sold in a single season.
    Josh Taylor, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Even professional designers have had to learn the hard way that some types of furniture pieces aren't all they're cracked up to be.
    Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025
  • Leslie Jones once cracked up everyone at Saturday Night Live, including the top dog of the show.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • An explosive test can mean many different things While the major nuclear powers have not detonated a nuclear bomb in decades, that doesn't mean work on nuclear weapons stopped.
    Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Asif said the mosque's security guards tried to intercept the suspect, who opened fire at them and then detonated his explosives among the worshippers.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • For some reason, Scott got so hyped up during his performance that the rapper all of a sudden turned to the Fanatics sign on the wall behind him and smashed it, according to TMZ.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The cars, about 20 of them, had their windows smashed and looked as though they were made in the 1940s or 1950s.
    Kathleen Hill, The Providence Journal, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Lastly, the city officials announced an order that directs the city's health department and the Department of City Development to work together to determine the best course of action to attract and retain grocery stores.
    Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Big claims, limited proof, and growing concerns The startup has not yet announced commercial availability or pricing.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • But a computer outage that snarled airlines nationwide forced Kerkering to change his flight back to Philadelphia.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Temperatures were plummeting as tens of thousands of homes and businesses remained without power from a blast of snow and ice last weekend that snarled traffic, knocked down trees and caused more than 100 deaths.
    Kristin M. Hall, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Blew up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blew%20up. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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