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

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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 sudden blowup was the most heated public exchange of words between world leaders in the Oval Office in memory, as the usual staid work of diplomacy descended into finger-pointing, shouting and eye-rolling. Zeke Miller, The Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2025 With President Trump, blowups can happen quickly, but so can reconciliations. The Editors, National Review, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
The levies on Canada and Mexico threaten to blow up Trump’s own USMCA trade deal, which allowed many products to cross North American borders duty free. TIME, 8 Mar. 2025 But part of the fight is trying to work out which teams are going to blow up or which driver pairings are going to be problematic. Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blowup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowup
Noun
  • The pet owners left items of clothing with their smell, Yoda and Whiskey's dog beds and some food at the scene.
    Erin Clack, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The two women in the Civic — a 29-year-old driver and her 39-year-old passenger, both from Huntington Park — were pronounced dead at the scene.
    Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • This indicates that an eruption is likely within the next few weeks or months.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Alaska's Mount Spurr, an active volcano near the most populated region in the state, is getting even closer to an eruption, according to volcanologists.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • President Trump’s remarks about Canada becoming the 51st state have greatly angered Canadians.
    Hersh Shefrin, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The craft retailer, which already closed 800 stores across the U.S. in February, has consumers angered by the terms and conditions of their going-out-of-business sales.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Philby died in 1988, by all reports a disillusioned man, but he’d already been killed off onscreen the year before in the opening moments of this Frederick Forsyth adaptation, in which a rogue branch of the KGB plots to build and detonate a bomb on British soil.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
  • This combination of vulnerability and vengeance was compounded by the overnight news that, according to the Israeli security services, terrorists had detonated bombs on several buses across central Israel.
    Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • To Late April Close, CFO Says - Update RTL pointed to 2024 success stories including Oscar-winner Poor Things, hit Amazon YA series Maxton Hall, Kim Kardashian-produced doc Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar and U.S. entertainment smashes like Family Feud and The Farmer Wants A Wife.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Two people who were in the office area were hit as the vehicle smashed through the building, came out the other side and struck another vehicle, police said.
    Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • While the clip left viewers cracking up, many weren't surprised about this cat's late-night shenanigans.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
  • And then now imagine the pothole gets a little bit bigger and a little bit deeper and the road's a little bit more cracked up.
    Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 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
  • Another 1,671 firms reached $2.5 to $4.9 million, up from 506 in 2021. Transportation and warehousing: With the e-commerce explosion sparking demand for last-mile transportation and warehousing, solopreneurs in this space profited.
    Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • An eruption followed by an explosion was heard Thursday evening as far as Larantuka and Maumere, two cities about 30 to 53 miles from the volcano.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Blowup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowup. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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