1
as in to detonate
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
the building was wrecked when a powerful bomb exploded
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2
as in to shatter
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive
the bomb was so powerful that it exploded windows in several neighboring buildings
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to erupt
to develop suddenly and violently
the mayor's latest unpopular decision caused long-suppressed resentment to explode into open anger
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Recent Examples of explode
Philippi also allegedly wanted to assemble pipe bombs and asked the FBI source to provide him with black powder to make the bombs explode.
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Kerry Breen, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
The lungs of the people there exploded from the air pressure when the bombs hit; many of them are intact, but look like mannequins.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
The Republican, and Republican-aligned, media outlets would explode.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 4 Nov. 2024
But in Guam, with no predators and an abundance of naive prey, its population exploded.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for explode 
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
The lungs of the people there exploded from the air pressure when the bombs hit; many of them are intact, but look like mannequins.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
The Republican, and Republican-aligned, media outlets would explode.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 4 Nov. 2024
But in Guam, with no predators and an abundance of naive prey, its population exploded.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for explode
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explode
Verb
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The bravura sixth episode depicts the Price sisters, incarcerated for detonating a car bomb in central London, stage a hunger strike in order to be moved into a prison back in Northern Ireland.Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
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Law enforcement arrested Philippi on site at the plant in possession of the powered up drone moments before the explosive devices were set to detonate, according to court documents.Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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As the menace escalates, her parents dismiss her fears, and Annie is soon plunged into a terrifying nightmare that shatters her world.Zac Ntim, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024
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The resulting encounter, in which his vulnerability and her deceits are laid bare, provides a quietly shattering climax.Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The Mountain Fire erupted at 8:51 a.m. Wednesday and was fueled by what fire officials called a significant Santa Ana wind event, with gusts of over 60 mph.Phil Helsel, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
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Encounters with the opposing party erupted in shouting and worse.Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Shares have been especially volatile around the election, with the stock closing down nearly 23% Thursday before popping back up 18% in Friday afternoon trading.Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
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The few longer waits that did pop up were largely within the one hour timeframe officials had predicted.Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
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But by the end of the third quarter, Berkshire Hathaway smashed its previous cash record by selling another quarter of its stake in the tech company, or 100 million shares, bringing its total shares to 300 million, down from 400 million.Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024
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The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint kicked off Saturday’s nine Breeders’ Cup races with a smashing stretch duel and 5-horse blanket finish with longshot Soul of an Angel winning at 19/1 odds.Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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For nonprofits reliant on city funding, the winds of political change can blow your funding off the map.Tylor Taylor, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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It is defined by his combative personality, his lack of inhibitions, his willingness to ignore democratic norms to go places others won’t and blow past previous political boundaries in ways many find alarming − such as threatening to use the military against Americans who oppose him.David Jackson, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Finally, after 20 years of struggle, protests, court battles and even picketing the home of Warren Buffett, whose company had assumed ownership of the dams, an agreement was reached to demolish the dams.Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
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World & Nation Israeli airstrike demolishes Iranian Consulate in Syria, kills two Iranian generals April 1, 2024 Kamal Adwan and two other nearby hospitals have been hit by Israel several times amid the fighting.Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The 6-foot-5, 265-pound rookie from UCLA burst off the line of scrimmage and barreled around Bears tight end Cole Kmet.Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
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Ever since Greta Thunberg burst onto the scene in 2018, climate protest has been seen as a primarily youthful pursuit.Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Explode.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explode. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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