Loading page
explode has 7 distinct synonyms spread across 5 of its 10 senses. Each sense below keeps its own list, because a synonym belongs to a meaning and not to a word: swapping one sense's substitute into another sense's sentence is how a thesaurus makes writing worse. Its one recorded opposite is implode.
Counts are distinct word forms across every sense. A synonym that appears under three senses is counted once here and shown three times below, under each sense it belongs to.
Synonyms, antonyms and the broader and narrower relations for explode come from Princeton University’s WordNet. Full sources and licences.
show a violent emotional reaction
“The boss exploded when he heard of the resignation of the secretary”
be unleashed; emerge with violence or noise
“His anger exploded”
destroy by exploding
“The enemy exploded the bridge”
cause to burst as a result of air pressure; of stop consonants like /p/, /t/, and /k/
drive from the stage by noisy disapproval
show (a theory or claim) to be baseless, or refute and make obsolete