1
as in flaring (up)
to become very angry
she blew up at everybody after a very long and very bad day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exploding
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 shattering
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 cracking 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 blowing up
The brand is blowing up for its bold designs, playful colorways, and the distinct versatility of its catalog.
—
Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2025
Surely Putin was in a panic at that point, for had NATO even threatened to take any action—such as blowing up the Kursk bridge and thereby trapping his army in Ukraine—he would have been left with the choice of surrender or all-out intercontinental nuclear war.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
Proving out reusability remains contingent on the rocket not blowing up on a regular basis.
—Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Back at Cousins Beach, Jeremiah is blowing up at anyone who tries to support him following the wedding cancellation.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Tears are blowing up in my eyes.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Now my parents can log in, scroll to their hearts’ content, and comment on their grandchild’s latest antics without blowing up my phone.
—Daphne Wilder, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Ned pushes a big red button at the end of the press to see what happens, and nothing does — but then his phone starts blowing up with staffers volunteering to pitch in on his new local reporting initiative.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
Tears are blowing up in my eyes.
—EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2025
Surely Putin was in a panic at that point, for had NATO even threatened to take any action—such as blowing up the Kursk bridge and thereby trapping his army in Ukraine—he would have been left with the choice of surrender or all-out intercontinental nuclear war.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
Proving out reusability remains contingent on the rocket not blowing up on a regular basis.
—Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Back at Cousins Beach, Jeremiah is blowing up at anyone who tries to support him following the wedding cancellation.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Tears are blowing up in my eyes.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Now my parents can log in, scroll to their hearts’ content, and comment on their grandchild’s latest antics without blowing up my phone.
—Daphne Wilder, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Ned pushes a big red button at the end of the press to see what happens, and nothing does — but then his phone starts blowing up with staffers volunteering to pitch in on his new local reporting initiative.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
Tears are blowing up in my eyes.
—EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowing up
Verb
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The unknown object collides with another moving object arriving from the opposite direction, exploding in a bright flash of light.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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Elsewhere online, wellness culture was exploding.—
Clare Malone,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The group also recently stepped out together at a University of Cincinnati football game, which just so happened to be Swift and Kelce’s first public outing since announcing their plans to get married with an internet-shattering post on Instagram in August.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
16 Sep. 2025
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Pamela Warner, mother and manager of the late actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, reflected on the life-shattering moment her son had untimely passed away.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The height difference between the dogs left people cracking up.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Apa and Cline are both cracking up now as Apa drops one more bomb.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Russia will test a new laser system designed to take out mines without detonating the explosive devices, state media reported on Thursday.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
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Livingston is angry at Shagan for detonating the bomb without his order, but nevertheless takes advantage of the confusion over Abigail's fate to remove her from power.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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From the Luddites smashing looms in 19th-century England to autoworkers walking out over the introduction of robots to the factory floor in the 1980s, resistance has flared before either being crushed or subsiding, giving way to the new economies and social orders the technologies ushered in.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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The 40th anniversary of John Farnham’s record-smashing 1986 album Whispering Jack will be celebrated with a new musical.—
Lars Brandle,
Billboard,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As health restrictions discouraged people from blowing directly into instruments, Gajewski and Brown reimagined the design.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
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Soldiers have also been spotted in parks carrying out tasks typically assigned to gardeners and landscapers – shoveling mulch, blowing leaves and scooping up trash.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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An image taken on August 19 shows Israeli excavators and bulldozers demolishing buildings in Zeitoun.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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About 90% of the former Spring Hill Mall is gone and work demolishing the final anchor store set to begin in the next couple of weeks, officials said.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Bungie took the rare step of doing an emergency buff live patch last night after announcing it in the TWAB to try to fix/improve The Portal and loot systems.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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This is not Chiu, who enthusiastically takes part in the process, sometimes even announcing purchases for the Crocker on social media.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blowing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowing%20up. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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