exploding

verb

present participle of explode
1
as in detonating
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 shattering
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 erupting
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

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 exploding Octane measures how well fuel resists exploding prematurely under compression in a gasoline engine. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026 In late 2023, the exploding popularity of these drugs caused shares of medical device companies like Insulet to plummet, fueled by the narrative that GLP-1s would eliminate the need for insulin. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026 Videos of Cubans exploding in anger and ranting against the government have become frequent despite the severe penalties Cuban law imposes to those who criticize the authorities. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026 Probing cosmic mysteries During its five-year mission, the telescope will enable the discovery of billions of galaxies, thousands of exploding stars called supernovas and tens of billions of stars, according to Fox. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 Medical experts say the uproar has diverted focus from an exploding public health threat. — Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026 The universe is a strange place — filled with exploding stars, ancient galaxies, and unseen worlds. — Joe Palca, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026 Steiner said a mass of glacial ice dropping from a great height could have felt like a bomb exploding, resulting in the chaos that followed. — Sibi Arasu, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Sabrina Blanchard and Luca Matteucci/AFP via Getty Images Steiner said a mass of glacial ice dropping from a great height could have felt like a bomb exploding, resulting in the chaos that followed. — CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploding
  1. detonating
  2. shattering
  3. erupting
  4. popping
  5. smashing
  6. blowing
  7. demolishing
  8. bursting
Verb
  • Bowie planned to put the bomb in a delivery bag and escape to Syria after detonating it, the complaint alleges.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Just weeks before her confrontation with Cunningham, Carrington sent shockwaves through the WNBA by publicly detonating her former relationship on social media.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of detonating
Verb
  • The video shows a customer walking out of Cinnaholic when the girls ride the scooter through the window, shattering the glass.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Wednesday, which was forecast to be the hottest day of the heat wave, brought record-shattering temperatures across the Southland.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of shattering
Verb
  • Its skyline is dominated by towering smokestacks, hulking arrays of metal tubes and bright flames erupting from flares at petrochemical plants in the global plastics supply chain.
    — Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Triton’s nitrogen geyser system Voyager 2 observed at least four dark plumes erupting from Triton, Neptune’s largest moon, during its 1989 flyby.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of erupting
Verb
  • The superstar has been spotted out and about in Manhattan this week, popping up at various outdoor dining establishments.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The sporty outerwear has since become a transitional dressing essential, with plenty more affordable versions popping up from Quince, Gap, and more.
    — Jordan Julian, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of popping
Verb
  • Bland said officers were dispatched after a 911 caller reported that Garcia had been walking down the street with a baseball bat, smashing car windows.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Nvidia guided for 70% revenue growth in fiscal-year 2028, smashing estimates of 40%.
    — Benzinga, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of smashing
Verb
  • Its exterior is rich with symbolism, from stone carvings representing the all-seeing eye of God to a golden statue, atop the highest spire, of an angel blowing a trumpet to herald the Second Coming.
    — Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • There is a micronation on a fortress at sea off the coast of Great Britain, and the British government once considered blowing it up.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of blowing
Verb
  • Mansfield Timberview signaled state-title ambitions by demolishing West Mesquite 69-7, while White Settlement Brewer knocked off Class 6A Haltom 31-14 to open Class 5A play.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Aug. 2026
  • While members of the public and the architectural community have criticized the Rike Tubes for altering the character of Tbilisi’s historic old town, some favored relocating them to a more suitable setting rather than demolishing them.
    — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of demolishing
Verb
  • Sip local wines like Norton or Vignoles, hop around downtown, or wander through orchards bursting with ripe apples while leaves crunch underfoot.
    — Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Forever Cemetery, where John Carpenter’s shape-shifting, stomach-bursting masterpiece comes alive on All Hallows’ Eve.
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of bursting

Browse Nearby Words

explodes
exploding
exploit
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Cite this Entry

“Exploding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploding. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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