blew up

VERB

inflate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

fill

WEAK

billow bloat distend enlarge expand inflate puff up pump up swell

Antonyms

WEAK

be calm deflate ignore let go let out shrink shrivel

VERB

explode

Synonyms

STRONGEST

blast bomb burst detonate dynamite erupt go off rupture shatter

WEAK

mushroom

Antonyms

STRONGEST

mend

WEAK

be calm deflate ignore let go let out shrink shrivel

VERB

magnify importance

Synonyms

WEAK

enlarge exaggerate heighten overstate

Antonyms

WEAK

be calm deflate ignore let go let out shrink shrivel

VERB

burst with anger

Synonyms

STRONGEST

erupt

WEAK

become angry become enraged go off the deep end hit the roof lose control lose temper rage rave

Antonyms

WEAK

be calm deflate ignore let go let out shrink shrivel

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As one might say: It’s not just selection bias, it’s a sentence structure that blew up in popularity over the past several years, data show.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

U.S. officials said they blew up the aircraft themselves after landing in Iran to offload equipment and personnel for the mission.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Beasley Allen objected to the settlement at the time, preferring to go for jackpot verdicts, and the agreement blew up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Engineers blew up part of a mountain to make room for a hotel carved into the blasted stone walls.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

But through her lips a question slipped out: “Somebody blew up the earth? Who?”

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides