1
as in has a fit
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 explodes
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 shatters
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 cracks 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 blows up
As one pipe blows up under their feet, two mercs go motionless and begin to drift away into the void.
—
Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Think about movements that happen when a person blows up a balloon.
—Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
Hunter consistently blows up running plays, ripping right through the interior of college offensive lines.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
For example, his steady job working in a bookstore blows up when it is set on fire and destroyed by those bullies ruling the neighborhood.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
Tommy plants the warehouse bomb that blows up the fake British currency.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The lead blows up, the other team’s fans laugh, roll closing credits.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
This, if possible, blows up in her face even more spectacularly than the brunch fiasco.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Cool, chaotic, and hyper-curious, Xav blows up his sound without losing his style.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Think about movements that happen when a person blows up a balloon.
—Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
Hunter consistently blows up running plays, ripping right through the interior of college offensive lines.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
For example, his steady job working in a bookstore blows up when it is set on fire and destroyed by those bullies ruling the neighborhood.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
Tommy plants the warehouse bomb that blows up the fake British currency.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The lead blows up, the other team’s fans laugh, roll closing credits.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
This, if possible, blows up in her face even more spectacularly than the brunch fiasco.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Cool, chaotic, and hyper-curious, Xav blows up his sound without losing his style.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blows up
Verb
-
In the original version, Sue just starts running away screaming because the head explodes.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
-
But this tranquility explodes when a shocking murder occurs, and a high-stakes investigation unfolds.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Related Stories The film shatters stereotypical visuals of space, veering away from cold and desaturated colors, and using warmer tones such as orange.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
-
His refusal to take the curse seriously shatters her trust, leaving her questioning their entire relationship.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
During one particularly fun moment shared by the LPGA Tour on Instagram, Clark cracks up at Cunningham's energetic approach to the sport — which ended in her accidentally hitting a fan with the ball.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
13 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The group is among the most successful access-broker operations, a class of hackers that smashes and grabs credentials from victims and then sells them to other hackers.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2026
-
But Wark smashes a ball to left field for the Aggies to retake the lead, 7-5.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Variety announces that after a two-year casting search, Michael’s very own nephew, Jaafar Jackson—the then 26-year-old son of Michael’s brother Jermaine Jackson and his ex-wife Alejandra Oaziaza—has been cast.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Norwegian Aqua is made for families and the ship announces this from afar with its double water slide.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Security snarls The TSA PreCheck line at terminal B in LaGuardia Airport in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, on March 27, 2026.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Beyond the red tape that snarls any new apartment, condominiums confront an additional hurdle.—
M. Nolan Gray,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tell them when something blows you away.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Tell them when something blows your mind.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blows up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blows%20up. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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