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to bomb

to bomb

300 3.1
To attack a place by dropping explosive devices from planes
  • verb
  • /bɑm/
translation icon : bombardear
  • At the end of World War Two, we bombed Hamburg.
  • bomb targets
  • bomb cities
  • bomb buildings

So we're going to bomb Iran or not.

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Examples

  • They're gonna bomb our ass back to the Stone Age.

  • You know, NATO bombed Serbia, got involved there.

  • It's like we, we bomb people all the time.

  • Look, I need you to bomb this place out of existence.

  • So we're going to bomb Iran or not.

  • But Kennedy goes, if we bomb Cuba, what do they do?

  • Identify the WMD for us, and we'll go in and bomb the hell out of it.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The Israelis may go so far as to bomb Iran's oil fields and energy infrastructure.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Rezwan Ferdaus nearly succeeded in his plot to bomb the Pentagon and Capitol building.

    Academic text (2012)
  • They plan to bomb the enemy's base during the night to achieve maximum surprise.

Synonyms

to blast
vsto bomb
137 4.9

To break rock or walls using explosives to make an opening

is specifically the aerial act of dropping explosives on a target rather than any explosion
to shell
vsto bomb
27 7.9

To fire metal containers filled with explosives at a place or people to cause damage

involves explosives dropped from aircraft rather than fired from guns or artillery
to bombard
vsto bomb
13 5.4

To attack something repeatedly by throwing things like stones or bombs

focuses specifically on dropping explosives from aircraft rather than varied attacks
to firebomb
vsto bomb
  • Offensive
8 7.3

To attack a place by throwing a bomb that starts fires

involves aerial dropping of explosives rather than setting fires by hand
to carpet bomb
vsto bomb
  • NSFW
4 7.5

To attack a wide area from the air by dropping many bombs

is the broader act of dropping explosives, not necessarily massive area coverage
to dive-bomb
vsto bomb
  • Specialized
2 7.5

To fly down quickly to attack, often seen when birds fly at people or when planes drop bombs

is the general act of dropping explosives from aircraft without the steep dive
to napalm
vsto bomb
  • Offensive
2 9.1

To attack a place with a thick burning liquid from bombs or flamethrowers

is the general aerial dropping of explosives not specifically using flammable chemicals
to blitz
vsto bomb
1 7.4

To attack a place suddenly and heavily, often by bombing from planes

is the narrower act of dropping explosives on a specific target rather than sudden mass raids
to bomb out
vsto bomb
1 8.3

Make people homeless by destroying their homes with bombs

is the broader aerial dropping of explosives not focused solely on causing homelessness
to pattern-bomb
vsto bomb
  • NSFW
9.9

To drop many bombs over an area in a set pattern

is a more general aerial drop not limited to a planned pattern
to skip-bomb
vsto bomb
  • Archaic
9.9

To drop bombs from a low plane so they bounce along water to hit ships

is the general aerial dropping of explosives, not the low altitude skipping method
to hydrogen-bomb
vsto bomb
  • NSFW
9.2

To destroy a city or area using a very powerful nuclear bomb

refers generally to dropping explosives without specifying the weapon type

Antonyms

1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

1.3

To protect people and things from attack or harm

Idioms

to be a bomb
  • Slang
5 8.6

Fail completely so people see it does not work

To tell people shocking news suddenly

9.7

To use the F-word to shock people

to drop the f-bomb
  • Offensive
9.9

Say the rude word 'fuck', often in a situation where it surprises or offends people

Phrasal Verbs

4 7.5

To attack a wide area from the air by dropping many bombs

1 8.3

Make people homeless by destroying their homes with bombs

1 8.8

To load a plane with bombs before an attack mission

to letter bomb
  • Offensive
8.8

To send a bomb hidden in an envelope to hurt someone

9.9

To drop many bombs over an area in a set pattern

Compounds

atomic bomb
  • Specialized
66 2.3

A very powerful weapon that splits atoms to make a huge explosion and destroy large areas

car bomb
  • Offensive
39 5.0

An explosive hidden inside a car that can be set off by remote control or a timer

32 3.0

A very powerful weapon that splits atoms to release huge energy

pipe bomb
  • Offensive
29 5.9

A thing made inside a metal pipe that explodes to hurt people or damage things

28 3.4

A strong place often underground where people stay to be safe from bombs

26 4.6

A problem that will become dangerous in the future if not fixed

16 3.0

A very powerful weapon that splits atoms to cause a huge explosion

dirty bomb
  • NSFW
10 7.7

A weapon that explodes and spreads radioactive material to contaminate an area, not a nuclear bomb

9 2.5

A sudden explosion from a bomb

cluster bomb
  • Specialized
8 6.7

A weapon that holds many small explosives which spread out and explode over a wide area

hydrogen bomb
  • Specialized
8 4.9

A very powerful nuclear bomb that makes a huge explosion by joining hydrogen atoms

7 3.6

A small thing that makes a very bad smell when you open it

smart bomb
  • Specialized
7 4.0

A bomb that can be guided to hit a specific target

5 7.5

A small red firework that makes a very loud bang and can hurt people

5 4.5

An area in a town destroyed or badly damaged by bombs

4 3.7

A small object that makes a thick cloud of smoke to hide people or mark a place

ticking bomb
  • Informal
3 5.2

A situation likely to become dangerous soon if people do not fix it

laser-guided bomb
  • Specialized
3 4.1

A bomb that follows laser light to hit a target accurately

H-bomb
  • NSFW
3 4.0

A very powerful nuclear weapon that explodes by joining hydrogen atoms

neutron bomb
  • Specialized
2 7.0

A weapon that kills people mainly with radiation but leaves buildings mostly standing

gas bomb
  • Offensive
2 4.6

A bomb that releases toxic gas when it explodes

1 5.8

A weapon that releases toxic chemicals when it explodes to kill or harm people

letter bomb
  • Offensive
1 7.8

A small bomb hidden in an envelope that explodes when opened

1 7.1

A bottle filled with petrol and a burning rag, thrown to start a fire

1 3.4

A bomb set to explode at a fixed time

megaton bomb
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A very powerful nuclear bomb equal to one million tons of TNT

fusion bomb
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A weapon that makes a very large explosion by joining light atoms like hydrogen

sex bomb
  • NSFW
1 7.4

A person, often a woman, who many people find very sexually attractive

buzz bomb
  • Archaic
1 9.4

A small jet-powered flying bomb used by Germany in World War II to attack cities

1 7.4

A simple weapon that uses a bottle of gasoline and a cloth wick to start fires

incendiary bomb
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A bomb that starts fires to burn buildings or fuel

package bomb
  • Offensive
1 5.6

A hidden device that explodes when someone opens a box or envelope

shoe bomb
  • Offensive
1 7.9

An explosive hidden inside a shoe that someone can make explode secretly

bomb rack
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A metal frame on an aircraft that holds and drops bombs in flight

dumb bomb
  • Specialized
1 5.1

An explosive dropped from a plane that falls by gravity without guidance

1 7.0

A bomb that sends out many small metal pieces to injure or kill people

balloon bomb
  • Archaic
1 7.9

An explosive that a balloon carries to travel far and explode

fission bomb
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A bomb that releases a huge amount of energy by splitting heavy atoms like uranium or plutonium

flying bomb
  • Archaic
1 7.9

A small flying machine with wings that carries a bomb to a target

fuel-air bomb
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A bomb that spreads fuel into the air and then explodes to make a very large blast

gravity bomb
  • Specialized
1 6.2

A bomb dropped from a plane that falls to a target without guidance

1 5.6

A bomb you can make explode from far away using a small device you hold

plutonium bomb
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A very powerful bomb that uses plutonium to make a huge nuclear explosion

sugar bomb
  • Informal
1 3.6

A food or drink that has a lot of sugar and tastes very sweet

thermonuclear bomb
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A very powerful weapon that makes a huge explosion by joining tiny hydrogen atoms at extreme heat

bomb calorimeter
  • Specialized
8.1

A strong closed container that measures heat from burning things in a lab

7.6

An explosive hidden in a briefcase that can be made to explode later

calorie bomb
  • Informal
4.2

A food that has a lot of calories and is often unhealthy

clean bomb
  • Archaic
6.1

A nuclear bomb that produces very little radioactive fallout

depth bomb
  • Archaic
8.1

A weapon that explodes underwater at a set depth to attack submarines

E-bomb
  • Specialized
9.9

A weapon that explodes in the air to stop electronic devices from working

A container under pressure that sprays a fine mist of liquid or gas when opened

8.2

A weapon that sprays flammable liquid into the air then sets it on fire to make a large explosion

An explosive that sends many small fast pieces to hurt people

atomic F-bomb
  • Offensive
8.5

A very strong use of the F-word that shocks people

fragmentation bomb
  • Specialized
8.1

A weapon that explodes and sends metal pieces at high speed to hurt people and damage things nearby

logic bomb
  • Specialized
7.9

Hidden code in a program that does harm when triggered

megaton bomb
  • Literature
4.9

A very shocking event or announcement that causes big change

8.8

A weapon that explodes in the air to stop electronic devices from working without hurting people or buildings

general-purpose bomb
  • Specialized
4.4

A large explosive object that makes a strong blast and many flying pieces

GP bomb
  • NSFW
6.0

A heavy weapon dropped from a plane to destroy buildings and hurt people

Guided Bomb Unit-28
  • Specialized
9.4

A heavy laser-guided bomb weighing 5,000 pounds that goes deep into bunkers to destroy them

robot bomb
  • Specialized
7.8

A missile with wings and a jet engine that carries explosives to a target without a person on board

5.9

An explosive hidden inside a package or envelope that explodes when opened

penetration bomb
  • Specialized
7.6

A strong bomb that goes through hard targets before it explodes

5.1

An explosive device made from plastic explosives that can be shaped to fit small spaces

9.8

A small underwater explosive fishermen use to scare seals from fishing areas

9.9

A bomb that spreads fuel and ignites to make a very hot, powerful blast

total bomb
  • Informal
7.7

A thing such as a film or product that fails badly with people

A small device that makes a very bad smell to drive people away

umami bomb
  • Slang
6.3

A dish with a very strong savory taste

8.2

A weapon that spreads fuel into the air and then sets it on fire, causing a very large blast

9.8

A bomb that spreads fuel into the air and then sets it on fire to make a very large explosion

How Intense

to raze
17 7.1
to carpet bomb
  • NSFW
4 7.5
to bombard
13 5.4
to bomb
300 3.1
strike
348 7.0

Surface Forms

bomb infinitive
bombed past
bombed past participle
bombing present participle
bombs third person singular

Etymology

Bomb as a verb to attack comes straight from the explosive bomb and means to attack a place with bombs, making many loud 'booms'. So to bomb somewhere is to drop bombs on it.