Synonyms of blowup

blowup 1 of 2

noun

ˈblō-ˌəp 

1

as in scene

an outburst or display of excited anger

the boss had another blowup when someone fouled up the copy machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scene
• huff
• explosion
• outburst
• fit
• reaction
• frenzy
• fireworks
• tantrum
• rage
• hysteria
• seizure
• hissy fit
• upheaval
• distraction
• storm
• eruption
• hissy
• fury
• agitation
• rampage
• temper
• indignation
• uproar
• spasm
• flare-up
• furore
• furor
• delirium
• wrath
• paroxysm
• pouts
• rise
• ire
• snit
• spleen
• lividity
• wrathfulness
• convulsion(s)
• pet
• lividness
• angriness
• sulkiness
• hump
• choler
• dander
• sullenness
• irateness
• grouch
• sulk(s)

2

as in eruption

the act or an instance of exploding

the last blowup of the volcano flattened trees for miles around

Synonyms & Similar Words

• eruption
• explosion
• firing
• bursting
• detonation
• blast
• burst
• outburst
• shooting
• blowout
• boom
• pop
• discharge
• flare-up
• bang
• airburst
• groundburst

blow up

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to anger

to become very angry

she blew up at everybody after a very long and very bad day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• anger
• fly into a rage
• hit the roof
• flare (up)
• fly off the handle
• snarl
• hit the ceiling
• have a fit
• flip (out)
• blow a gasket
• snap
• blow one's top
• go ballistic
• blow one's stack
• glare
• explode
• lose one's temper
• blow one's cool
• forget oneself
• lose one's cool
• storm
• steam
• tee off
• flare (out)
• flash
• rage
• warm
• foam
• rave
• vituperate
• sputter
• rant
• fulminate
• burst
• vent
• bristle
• burn
• glower
• smolder
• sizzle
• fume
• seethe
• inflame
• madden

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calm (down)
• cool (off or down)
• relax
• simmer down
• quiet (down)
• chill out
• hush

2

as in to detonate

to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure

the building blew up because of a gas leak

Synonyms & Similar Words

• detonate
• explode
• blow
• pop
• burst
• go off
• fragment
• crump
• smash
• fire
• shatter
• discharge
• splinter
• shoot
• mushroom
• balloon
• burgeon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collapse
• implode
• fizzle

3

as in to smash

to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive

blew up the biggest rocks and then cleared them away

Synonyms & Similar Words

• smash
• shatter
• demolish
• blow
• destroy
• burst
• pop
• explode
• blast
• detonate
• annihilate
• ruin
• wreck
• fragment
• dynamite
• decimate
• discharge
• splinter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collapse
• implode

4

as in to crack up

to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively

the advertisement blows the new soda up to the point where I half expected to be transported to a higher level of consciousness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crack up
• advertise
• announce
• cry up
• promote
• tub-thump
• acclaim
• trumpet
• tout
• commend
• offer
• glorify
• applaud
• compliment
• ballyhoo
• laud
• extol
• proclaim
• pronounce
• eulogize
• magnify
• publicize
• lay down
• plug
• blare
• claim
• herald
• blaze
• declare
• make out
• assert
• boost
• blazon
• advance
• aver

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of blowup

Noun

In movies, friendships end with a big blowup after there has been a significant betrayal by one party. — Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 2 July 2026

The history of peacemaking – from Kadesh to the Dayton Accords that ended the Bosnian war, to the Belfast Agreement that halted the 30-year sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland – shows that public blowups and threats to walk out are normal stages, not proof of failure. — Monica Duffy Toft, The Conversation, 25 June 2026

Verb

The protests are quickly blowing up as a hot topic in the election campaign to replace President Emmanuel Macron next May. — Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

That was something they were primed to be paying attention to, since Mora had been seen blowing up at Summers the week prior, when CSU was busy giving up 59 points to UTSA. — Jason Kirk, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026