blowup 1 of 2

blow up

2 of 2

verb

1
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

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 blowup
Noun
The president has been seen by critics as siding too much with Putin and over Zelensky and Ukraine over the war, a sense augmented by a testy blowup in the White House in February during an on-camera press event featuring Trump, Vice President Vance and the Ukrainian leader. Ian Swanson, The Hill, 19 May 2025 He’s covered the blowup of a former billionaire’s foundation for underserved students, America’s Richest Families, and how Charles Koch, Phil Knight and other aging billionaires plan to transfer their wealth. Matt Durot, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Verb
Boston loaded the bases with no outs again in the bottom of the fourth after Duran worked an 11-pitch walk against Soriano, blowing up the right-hander’s pitch count and bringing Rafael Devers to the plate. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 4 June 2025 Diddy took issue with his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, dating Kid Cudi and looked to strike fear into him by allegedly attempting to blow up his car. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for blowup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowup
Noun
  • More frustrating is that the actual racing sequences are less expressive than the dialogue scenes.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 June 2025
  • Rice has been keeping his catching skills sharp with daily work behind the scenes.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • During Mount Etna’s recent eruption, however, the flow was contained within the region’s Lion Valley, per the AP.
    Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2025
  • More recently, Mount Etna has been active in the past few months, with this eruption being the 14th episode since March 2025 after a 19-day lull.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • The presence was much larger than when officials detained an immigrant last week and appeared to be a continuation of the new and controversial practice that has troubled attorneys, angered activists and increased fears for immigrants.
    Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025
  • Read more: Vikings' Reason For Passing on Aaron Rodgers Revealed: Report Keeping that in mind, a new prediction has been made for the Vikings that will anger the fan base.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • The Royal Navy is testing how to use robots to seek out and detonate mines and other threats found near vital yet vulnerable undersea cables and pipelines at greater depths than a human diver can safely reach.
    David Szondy June 10, New Atlas, 10 June 2025
  • Torkelson smoothed out his swing, found his timing and detonated a blast that sent the ball crescendoing over the left-field fence.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • Two weeks ago, vandals threw bricks through the front office window, smashing a few items inside.
    Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
  • Summer McIntosh’s super summer The Canadian swimming phenom made history for the second time in three days by smashing a decade-old record in the 200m individual medley.
    Jade Walker, CNN Money, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • The audience is too, repeatedly cracking up during a 25th anniversary screening and reunion Q&A at the Tribeca Festival Saturday.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 June 2025
  • Finishing each other’s sentences, cracking up at the same things, going off on (heartwarming!) tangents, sharing the splash of extra wine the waiter pours, asking me interesting questions.
    Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • The chute opens, and rambunctious No. 2 bursts out with an impatient huff.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Volunteers were charged around 25 cents per huff, bringing in good profit for those who’d invested in the necessary gas tanks, tubes, and breathing bags.
    Oshan Jarow, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Noun
  • The explosion of betting options signals the next stage of growth for U.S. sports betting, shifting from wagers placed before a game to betting during a game.
    Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 15 June 2025
  • Photo taken after an explosion in downtown Tehran amid Israel's two-day campaign of strikes against Iran on June 15.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Blowup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowup. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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