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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of explode
Crews have described to The Associated Press seeing drones and missiles explode over the waters as their vessels run low on drinking water, food and other supplies.
—
ABC News, 4 May 2026
The department’s shows have exploded in popularity over the past decade, in large part thanks to the involvement of former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who has chaired the Met Gala since 1995.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 May 2026
Since 2019, state spending has exploded by over 70%, turning a record surplus into a massive deficit.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Crews have described to The Associated Press seeing drones and missiles explode over the waters earlier in the war as their vessels run low on drinking water, food and other supplies.
—Sam Metz, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for explode
ABC News, 4 May 2026
The department’s shows have exploded in popularity over the past decade, in large part thanks to the involvement of former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who has chaired the Met Gala since 1995.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 May 2026
Since 2019, state spending has exploded by over 70%, turning a record surplus into a massive deficit.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Crews have described to The Associated Press seeing drones and missiles explode over the waters earlier in the war as their vessels run low on drinking water, food and other supplies.
—Sam Metz, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for explode
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explode
Verb
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Robots were used to recover and detonate some of the remaining explosive devices, police said.—
Faris Tanyos,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
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The posture changed dramatically in 1995 when Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb next to a federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 167 people.—
Neil Flanagan,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
Verb
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LaPorta set the rookie tight end record for receptions in 2023 with 86 (the Las Vegas Raiders’ Brock Bowers shattered it a year later with 112).—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
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If the record pace continues, TDT will raise well over $400 million in the current fiscal year, shattering last year’s mark.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Days after the intense discourse erupted on social media, Emmy-winning Euphoria makeup artist Donni Davy applauded the look on Instagram.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
8 May 2026
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Alaniz hit a walk-off home run and flipped his bat as the crowd at Brownwood High School erupted.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
Verb
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But second-year point guard Carla Leite, who had hurt her ankle earlier in the evening, blew by Jones in isolation to tie the score 96-96 with 27 seconds to play.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
Verb
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High-rise timber construction continues to grow in popularity worldwide, with Australia's incredible Atlassian Central wooden skyscraper due to smash all records once completed.—
Adam Williams
May 09,
New Atlas,
9 May 2026
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By that evening, TV news stations broadcasted images of the bus smashed into the ground, leaving little room to imagine how those trapped inside could have possibly escaped.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Zebra Technologies — The automation stock popped 17% on better-than-expected first-quarter results.—
Fred Imbert,Sarah Min,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
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One theory that has popped up is that the virus originated from a bird watching landfill in Ushuaia, located at the southern tip of Argentina, where a couple who were infected with the virus visited, Argentinian officials first hypothesized.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The house was set to be demolished after Sprague died, but instead it was purchased and partially restored by Roger and Mary Mildred DeWitt in the 1960s.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
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Many family members are opposed to demolishing and/or selling the property.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
8 May 2026
Verb
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All of this only adds to conviction in AI, but also has some investors with long memories likening the current period to the late 1990s when the stock market boomed thanks to internet investment before the bubble eventually burst in 2000.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
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Skin is elastic enough to permit significant expansion with bursting.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explode.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explode. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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