1
as in detonates
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 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
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3
as in erupts
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of explodes In the original version, Sue just starts running away screaming because the head explodes. —
Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026 But this tranquility explodes when a shocking murder occurs, and a high-stakes investigation unfolds. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026 That everything-at-once approach explodes across a whole wall at the opposite end of the gallery. —Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026 Yet by the end, the song explodes into a crushing wall of sound, Day’s voice spawning in triples above a screeching electronica bed. —Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026 Vann instantly explodes, then runs off into the distance, making it across the street before collapsing to the ground where a resident tried to help him with damp towels. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026 There’s an intimacy to it in the verses, and then there’s a big dynamic jump, an octave jump between the verse and the chorus, which just explodes into this hopeful, optimistic thing. —Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026 In that kind of disaster scenario, the crew capsule separates from the rocket to save the astronauts, and the rocket explodes into small pieces. —Charlie Gile, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026 Still, as the AI data center build-out explodes thanks to record-breaking investments, which will hit $700 billion this year alone, some blue-collar roles are rising in demand. —Jake Angelo, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026 But this tranquility explodes when a shocking murder occurs, and a high-stakes investigation unfolds. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026 That everything-at-once approach explodes across a whole wall at the opposite end of the gallery. —Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026 Yet by the end, the song explodes into a crushing wall of sound, Day’s voice spawning in triples above a screeching electronica bed. —Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026 Vann instantly explodes, then runs off into the distance, making it across the street before collapsing to the ground where a resident tried to help him with damp towels. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026 There’s an intimacy to it in the verses, and then there’s a big dynamic jump, an octave jump between the verse and the chorus, which just explodes into this hopeful, optimistic thing. —Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026 In that kind of disaster scenario, the crew capsule separates from the rocket to save the astronauts, and the rocket explodes into small pieces. —Charlie Gile, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026 Still, as the AI data center build-out explodes thanks to record-breaking investments, which will hit $700 billion this year alone, some blue-collar roles are rising in demand. —Jake Angelo, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explodes
Verb
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After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual.— Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
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Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive.— Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
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Related Stories The film shatters stereotypical visuals of space, veering away from cold and desaturated colors, and using warmer tones such as orange.— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
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His refusal to take the curse seriously shatters her trust, leaving her questioning their entire relationship.— Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Mar. 2026
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What follows is a crescendo of bloody madness, including a gruesome toenail cutting scene that shouldn’t be viewed while eating, a grandma being eaten alive by a pack of coyotes and a truly bonkers wake that erupts into laugh-out-loud violence thanks to a pair of dentures.— Alex Ritman, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
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Chaos erupts when a bank robbery hits an otherwise unassuming town, exposing secrets the mayor (Odenkirk's real-life friend Henry Winkler) and others have hidden from Ulysses.— Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
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For a character who pops up in only a few episodes of The Pitt, fourth-year resident Crus Henderson makes a strong impression.— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
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Nigella, also known as 'Love-in-a-Mist', pops up along the sidewalk to welcome passers-by.— Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 17 Apr. 2026
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But Wark smashes a ball to left field for the Aggies to retake the lead, 7-5.— Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
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Delivery robot smashes into glass of bus shelter in Old Town on Tuesday afternoon.— Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
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But if all of America’s trading partners, or former trading partners, are heading into crisis, the crisis blows back.— David Frum, The Atlantic, 22 Apr. 2026
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Most notably, Turkey and Greece came to blows several times, usually over their still-unresolved territorial conflict over Cyprus in the Mediterranean.— Carla Martinez Machain, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
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The latest filing demolishes the timeworn claim that DOGE was infiltrated into Social Security in order to responsibly ferret out fraud and overspending.— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
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If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.— Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 30 Sep. 2025
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Levine Cava said the Kelly Tractor project destroys too many wetlands and bypasses county rules on approving development proposed outside Miami-Dade’s Urban Development Boundary.— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
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The novel begins with a deadly fire that destroys two tenements.— Danielle Parker, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explodes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/explodes. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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