1
as in scene
an outburst or display of excited anger
the boss had another blowup when someone fouled up the copy machine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to anger
to become very angry
she blew up at everybody after a very long and very bad day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to detonate
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 to smash
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
as in to crack up
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively
the advertisement blows the new soda up to the point where I half expected to be transported to a higher level of consciousness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blowup
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2025
But with no obvious blowups or scandals this time, some traders think the current drop is more about technicals and confidence than systemic cracks.
—Emily Nicolle, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
The simplest but messiest option would be to blow up the containers, with explosives attached to each one.
—Matthew Bunn, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blowup
Noun
At street level though, Shields’s name is emblazoned in a blowup of a quote about his performance that ran in this column.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2025
But with no obvious blowups or scandals this time, some traders think the current drop is more about technicals and confidence than systemic cracks.
—Emily Nicolle, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
Verb
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, 17 Mar. 2026
The simplest but messiest option would be to blow up the containers, with explosives attached to each one.
—Matthew Bunn, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blowup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowup
Noun
-
Pennsylvania State Police and its criminal investigation unit responded to the scene, and the coroner has also been notified.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
There’s also a sense of comfort and ease that puts Moctezuma in the perfect position to view the local art scene, but perhaps more importantly, to be a part of it in such a way that can connect communities that might not otherwise cross paths.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Check the National Park Service website for active eruption updates, as viewing depends on current activity.—
Ben Davidson,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Other prominent arsenic peaks, alongside major sulfate peaks, likely indicate major volcanic events that align with records of 13th century eruptions recorded in Greenland and Antarctic ice cores.—
Nidhi Sharma,
Popular Science,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The launch bucked Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s claims that Iranian missiles only have an approximate 1,200-mile range and angered on-edge European leaders.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Is she amused or angered or saddened by this?—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The devices failed to detonate, there were no injuries, and the men were arrested and are awaiting trial.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Will a nuclear bomb be detonated?—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Was Perugino, the master overtaken by his pupil, similarly tempted to smash something?—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
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At the end of what's been one of the warmest winter weeks in recent memory across Southern California, Friday continued to smash daily and monthly heat records, according to the National Weather Service.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Padilla and Gosling were a teacher and principal in another sketch reading passed notes out loud that, according to text on screen, were swapped out since rehearsal, causing both to crack up uncontrollably.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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Here, Lauren Houser, vice president of marketing at cleaning solutions company Zep in Atlanta, Georgia, highlights six common hacks that really aren't all they're cracked up to be.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Among agonized grunts and huffs, Probst narrated the fumbles.—
Sarah Grant,
New Yorker,
2 Feb. 2026
-
David walks out of the kitchen and Moira huffs and takes his spot over the pot.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Nam said the cause was not immediately known, but the blaze appeared to have spread rapidly, with witnesses reporting an explosion.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Heavy explosions shook Dubai early Friday as air defenses intercepted incoming fire over the city, where people were observing Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, and mosques made the day's first call to prayers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blowup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowup. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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