1
as in detonates
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 shatters
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 erupts
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 explodes
After Paul causes a boating accident that kills a young woman, the family explodes.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
The post also included a video showing aerial footage of a fast-moving boat at sea that suddenly explodes.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Based on the book by Slow Horses scribe Mick Herron, in Down Cemetery Road, when a house explodes in a quiet Oxford suburb and a girl disappears in the aftermath, neighbor Sarah Trafford (Wilson) becomes obsessed with finding her and enlists the help of private investigator Zoë Boehm (Thompson).
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
Eventually, that moment comes when the artist explodes.
—Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2025
Momo watches from a distance, and the devastation leads her to crush a piece of Nanoskin in her hand, which briefly forms a heart before melting away as her home explodes behind her.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
When the massive star explodes and leaves behind a black hole, this remnant can stay gravitationally bound to its stellar companion, which can betray its presence.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2025
Not the kind that explodes into shouting matches, but the silent, slow-burning kind.
—Stephan Lendi, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
As Kevin, a truly reluctant hero who can’t escape his fundamental goodness, attempts to drive the kids and Mary across town, the Camp Fire explodes.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
The post also included a video showing aerial footage of a fast-moving boat at sea that suddenly explodes.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Based on the book by Slow Horses scribe Mick Herron, in Down Cemetery Road, when a house explodes in a quiet Oxford suburb and a girl disappears in the aftermath, neighbor Sarah Trafford (Wilson) becomes obsessed with finding her and enlists the help of private investigator Zoë Boehm (Thompson).
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
Eventually, that moment comes when the artist explodes.
—Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2025
Momo watches from a distance, and the devastation leads her to crush a piece of Nanoskin in her hand, which briefly forms a heart before melting away as her home explodes behind her.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
When the massive star explodes and leaves behind a black hole, this remnant can stay gravitationally bound to its stellar companion, which can betray its presence.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2025
Not the kind that explodes into shouting matches, but the silent, slow-burning kind.
—Stephan Lendi, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
As Kevin, a truly reluctant hero who can’t escape his fundamental goodness, attempts to drive the kids and Mary across town, the Camp Fire explodes.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explodes
Verb
-
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.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Tessa Ia leads the series as Valeria Goldberg, a young woman in a Jewish-Mexican community who makes a mistake that shatters her world and forces her into a desperate fight to find her missing children.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
-
In a small town like Harding, a crime involving local children of local families shatters the relatively placid and usually numb routines of daily life.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The volcano is located on the eastern coast of Sicily and erupts almost continuously, according to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
22 Oct. 2025
-
When Haidt credits mothers for driving the phone-free movement, the crowd, which has reached a standing-room-only capacity, erupts into applause.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There in the dark, a poem by my grandmother pops into my head.—
Rowan Jacobsen,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The player must complete the dare inside when a balloon pops or claim their treat.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As Richard tries to kill Carrie, Sigrid shoots him in the shoulder and Lo smashes him in the face with a piece of boating equipment.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
As several women listen intently, Belushi, donning a toga, rips the guitar out of Bishop's hands and smashes it into a wall.—
Mark Gray,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Farming them also drives desertification in Mongolia, where the dust blows high in June, polluting the air as far afield as America, and making workers ill.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Some games, like ones against the Bears and Panthers, this team blows golden opportunities to get into the win column.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Each participant had lost central vision in one eye due to dry AMD, which destroys light-sensitive macular cells over time.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
-
An arson fire destroys the 43-year-old Globe Theatre on March 8 (the arsonist was never caught, but a firebug had set several blazes in the park that winter).—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explodes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explodes. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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