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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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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of explode
Intense recriminations followed the disaster after reports that local governments hadn’t taken many basic, relatively inexpensive steps to reduce the flammable vegetation that helps wildfires explode.
—
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2025
The last two tests ended when the spacecraft’s first stage exploded.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
The theory exploded into public consciousness in February after Sammi Tannor Cohen (@sammicohentalks) and co-creator @thebestmarketingnewsletterever posted a Substack essay and subsequent Instagram post on the subject.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
During the two most recent Starship launches, the vehicle's upper stage exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, showering chunks of debris across a wide stretch and creating a artificial meteor shower for people across The Bahamas and Florida's Space Coast.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for explode
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2025
The last two tests ended when the spacecraft’s first stage exploded.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
The theory exploded into public consciousness in February after Sammi Tannor Cohen (@sammicohentalks) and co-creator @thebestmarketingnewsletterever posted a Substack essay and subsequent Instagram post on the subject.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
During the two most recent Starship launches, the vehicle's upper stage exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, showering chunks of debris across a wide stretch and creating a artificial meteor shower for people across The Bahamas and Florida's Space Coast.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for explode
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explode
Verb
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What To Know India first tested its nuclear weapons in 1974, becoming the sixth country to detonate a nuclear weapon.—
Nick Mordowanec
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
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Her goal is to plant Eva into the lives of the perfect couple like a bomb, set to detonate at their most vulnerable moment.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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O’Brien ranks 22nd in NCAA history in career caused turnovers with 160, which shatters Lacey Leigh Hentz’s previous school record of 146.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
10 May 2025
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Israel resumed its bombardment in Gaza on March 18, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
Verb
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Without Tatum, Brown erupted for his best-scoring game of the series: 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 shooting from downtown.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2025
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The talks came as protests erupted across China, where the loss of the U.S.—the country's largest single export market—was forcing factories to shut down.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Additional sinkholes have popped up in the time since December’s collapse.—
Jared Kofsky,
ABC News,
17 May 2025
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Korn blew up in the late-Nineties heyday of MTV’s Total Request Live, where every day’s fan-vote countdown was a battle between the Britney/Backstreet Boys pop kids and the Korn/Limp Bizkit rock kids.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2025
Verb
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The crash came a little over a year after the Dali, a 984-foot-long cargo ship, lost power while departing Baltimore’s harbor and smashed into the Key Bridge, killing six people and destroying critical infrastructure.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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Devers stepped to the plate with a tie score and smashed a 2-1 breaking ball to deep right-center over the bullpen wall, propelling the Red Sox to a 7-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Verb
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In addition, strong winds over desert areas could result in briefly lowered visibilities to well under a mile at times in blowing dust or blowing sand.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 May 2025
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Those cops do more than blow whistles and bark signals.—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
11 May 2025
Verb
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WIth Jarren Duran on first with a one-out single in the sixth, Devers demolished Lugo’s first pitch, a 91.8 mph four-seamer.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2025
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If anything, Gunther should absolutely demolish the beloved McAfee as a way of getting back on the right foot following a surprise submission defeat to Jey Uso at WrestleMania 40.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2025
Verb
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Sleight of Hand is a powerful, intense rye whiskey bursting with bold flavors reflecting Texas whiskey's power.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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Summer isn’t officially here yet, but Amazon is already bursting with airy dresses for under $50.—
Emily Weaver,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explode.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explode. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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