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
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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
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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
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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
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Recent Examples of blows up
This blows up dinner in a big way.
—
Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2025
The compact vacuum even blows up air mattresses and compresses vacuum storage bags.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
When a snowstorm blows up suddenly and socks in the entire area, Lester and Mike begin a search that soon expands with the aid of local neighbors and law enforcement.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
What's Daryl’s psyche like after that boat blows up, and how is that going to play out in season 4?
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
The new $106 million Nike man totally blows up a Titans run to start the game.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
But if this blows up in Utah’s face in two or three years … oy.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
When Yung Felon’s identity is revealed, his music blows up with billions of streams, and new fans flock to support him despite his heinous crimes.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 15 Aug. 2025
This week, Cardi B has a message for the competition, Chance The Rapper comes full circle and Dijon blows up.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blows up
Verb
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Mike, Hopper, and everyone else who loves her can only stand there and watch as the bomb goes off and the exotic matter explodes.—
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But if the geological plumbing is clogged, perhaps by silica minerals or rock debris, the pressure can build until the water explodes, vaporizing into steam and shooting boiling water, mud, rocks, and other debris into the air.—
Verb
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Continue reading … RISE UP – Catholic conference shatters attendance records as 26,000 young people flock to faith event.—
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The drop shatters a plate from Andrew's mother's irreplaceable collection of heirloom china and prompts Andrew to fire Enzo.—
Verb
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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.—
Verb
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Brother Dusk detonates explosives that shatter the cryonic chamber of Cleon clones, bodies raining down in blood and glass, before plucking a single embryo from the wreckage to bait Demerzel’s deepest programming.—
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Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.—
Verb
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Ben smashes chests and heads in, tears jaws out, rips faces off, and director Johannes Roberts makes sure to include brief close-ups of the carnage, lit just dimly enough to avoid truly grossing us out.—
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When Ben smashes a television set, perhaps Roberts is even making some sort of societal point.—
Verb
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Now, the big question for analysts seems to be when, not if, Abivax announces a deal.—
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The third bill from Schroer would require a professional sports team that announces plans to relocate to another state to charge an extra $50 on every ticket sold and an additional 5% charge on all purchases inside the stadium.—
Verb
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On a recent morning in midtown Manhattan, Spike Lee blows on an imaginary pair of dice before hurling them to the ground.—
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Brunson fakes the swing to the right corner, blows past VJ Edgecombe, gets both feet into the paint, draws two defenders and finds OG Anunoby in the left corner.—
Verb
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If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Cite this Entry
“Blows up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blows%20up. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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