detonator
noun
det·o·na·tor
ˈde-tᵊn-ˌā-tər 
-tə-ˌnā-
: a device or small quantity of explosive used for detonating a high explosive
Examples of detonator in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Three detonators ensure detonation regardless of the contact angle.
—
Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
Mechanism Pipe bombs typically feature a long container filled with explosive materials and some type of fuse or detonator that ignites the bomb.
—Divya Dubey, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
The investigators soon determined that the devices in the IKEA bag were detonators, capable of triggering an explosion or a fire.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2026
When the time was right, Motele hit the detonator, ran out of the building and the bomb exploded.
—Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detonator
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Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
Mechanism Pipe bombs typically feature a long container filled with explosive materials and some type of fuse or detonator that ignites the bomb.
—Divya Dubey, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
The investigators soon determined that the devices in the IKEA bag were detonators, capable of triggering an explosion or a fire.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2026
When the time was right, Motele hit the detonator, ran out of the building and the bomb exploded.
—Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detonator
Cite this Entry
“Detonator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detonator. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detonator
noun
det·o·na·tor
ˈdet-ᵊn-ˌāt-ər
-ə-ˌnāt-
: a device or small quantity of explosive used for detonating another explosive
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