as in disasters
something that has failed
her tell-all book was a bomb that landed on the remainder tables with a thud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in floods
to attack with a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once
following the reporter's obscene outburst, viewers bombed the television station with an unprecedented number of complaints
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in races
slang
to proceed or move quickly
skiers bombing down the slope vied for the coveted gold medal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in collapses
to be unsuccessful
the chichi restaurant bombed big-time, lasting only six months
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in whips
to defeat by a large margin
it's no surprise that the inexperienced baseball team got totally bombed in its first game
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 bombs
Ciera Bates-Chamberlain, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
That includes the slim Republican majority in Congress, which voted against curbing the president’s ability to unilaterally drop bombs.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Conventional warfare, in which bombs are dropped, shipping channels are mined, and the Geneva Conventions apply more broadly, tends to be time-limited (even if the conflict endures for a long period of time).
—Sue Halpern, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
There were his walk-off bombs against Rangers and Pirates, too.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
For those who didn't watch, Stewart had another monster game last night and is providing protection for Elly De La Cruz, who hit two bombs last night.
—Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Another creative option is making seed bombs to toss in empty lots or gardens.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Make seed bombs to toss in empty lots or gardens.
—Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Shamim Mafi is charged in a federal complaint with brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Page Six gets a Hollywood edition Papps declined last week to reveal what stories his reporters were chasing and what bombs the political columnists will throw in its first editions.
—Christopher Weber, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
If Venezuela and its region instead spiral into chaos and suffering, Trump will merely look like a bully, a president who cowers when facing the mighty — in Moscow or Beijing, say — but bombs those who can’t return fire, whether in Nigeria, Yemen or Venezuela.
—Andreas Kluth, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Above, South Lake Tahoe ripper Emma Dayberry bombs through Kirkwood’s fabled Finger chutes, a quick traverse off of the Cornice Express six-pack chairlift.
—Drew Zieff, Outside, 7 Nov. 2025
Ukraine bombs Russian energy infrastructure to defend civilians and destroy the Kremlin war machine.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Oct. 2025
Remind them their worth is non-negotiable When your child fails — gets cut from the team, bombs a test — remind them their value isn't up for debate.
—Jennifer Breheny Wallace, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Just like the children on whom the same administration drops bombs.
—Ciera Bates-Chamberlain, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
That includes the slim Republican majority in Congress, which voted against curbing the president’s ability to unilaterally drop bombs.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Conventional warfare, in which bombs are dropped, shipping channels are mined, and the Geneva Conventions apply more broadly, tends to be time-limited (even if the conflict endures for a long period of time).
—Sue Halpern, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
There were his walk-off bombs against Rangers and Pirates, too.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
For those who didn't watch, Stewart had another monster game last night and is providing protection for Elly De La Cruz, who hit two bombs last night.
—Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Another creative option is making seed bombs to toss in empty lots or gardens.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Make seed bombs to toss in empty lots or gardens.
—Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Shamim Mafi is charged in a federal complaint with brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
The United States bombs Iran's nuclear facilities days later.
—Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Page Six gets a Hollywood edition Papps declined last week to reveal what stories his reporters were chasing and what bombs the political columnists will throw in its first editions.
—Christopher Weber, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
If Venezuela and its region instead spiral into chaos and suffering, Trump will merely look like a bully, a president who cowers when facing the mighty — in Moscow or Beijing, say — but bombs those who can’t return fire, whether in Nigeria, Yemen or Venezuela.
—Andreas Kluth, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Above, South Lake Tahoe ripper Emma Dayberry bombs through Kirkwood’s fabled Finger chutes, a quick traverse off of the Cornice Express six-pack chairlift.
—Drew Zieff, Outside, 7 Nov. 2025
Ukraine bombs Russian energy infrastructure to defend civilians and destroy the Kremlin war machine.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Oct. 2025
Remind them their worth is non-negotiable When your child fails — gets cut from the team, bombs a test — remind them their value isn't up for debate.
—Jennifer Breheny Wallace, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombs
Noun
-
Five worst nuclear reactor disasters 1.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Satellite connectivity can act as a backup during disasters like hurricanes or wildfires.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Neuroscientists Wendy Suzuki, PhD, Samuel Wang, PhD, and Gary Small, MD explain how movement increases blood flow, boosts growth factors like BDNF, and floods the brain with mood-lifting neurochemicals.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Apr. 2026
-
These pieces blend perfectly with lamps designed by Marcel Wanders, the subtle Ice Cream collection, and the natural light that floods the space, bringing the building’s century-old architecture to life.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Its untapped reserves are being wasted as the world races toward an era of abundant renewable energy.—
Judah Taub,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The film unfolds in Kathmandu, where a mother races to shield her nine-year-old daughter from a sudden and troubling change – a journey that forces both characters to reckon with trauma and with a legal system ill-equipped to deliver justice.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the video demonstrates, von Ensingen’s drawing (not in the show, alas) collapses all the levels, complete with stairs, setbacks, vaults, and columns, onto a single plane.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
23 Apr. 2026
-
For Tottenham, what once felt unthinkable is fast becoming one of the most remarkable collapses the 34-year Premier League era has seen.—
Dean Jones,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Canty is one of the coaches who whips students into shape.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
When a dog repeatedly wags and whips its tail against hard surfaces, the tip can split open, bruise or break.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
During the drive, a tank shells the car, killing most of the occupants.—
E. Alex Jung,
Vulture,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Yet, these authors and their peers such as Naomi Schaefer Riley continually shrink this extraordinarily complex problem to outcomes only — framing broken families in deeply dark narratives of horror, highlighting failures and demanding accountability.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Johnson said the failures cost Stephen Nolte his life.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The law speeds a notoriously slow process and allows state parks officials to more easily buy lands for less than $1 million or take free donations from environmental groups if the properties abut existing state parks and won’t require hiring new rangers or other staff.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
This approach not only speeds up decision-making but also improves hiring quality by making comparisons between candidates more objective and data-driven.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bombs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombs. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
