as in to explode
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
the bomb detonated with a thunder that could be heard for blocks in all directions
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Recent Examples of detonate
Two Swedes were convicted in a Danish court of terrorism and attempted murder for detonating two hand grenades near the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen in October 2024.
—
Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Gemma then detonates the device.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
On Unknown Pleasures, the producer had taken Joy Division’s dense goth-punk sound into a frozen field and detonated it.
—Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
Douville later learned that the trees around him were literally cracking apart, detonating from the inside.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detonate
Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Gemma then detonates the device.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
On Unknown Pleasures, the producer had taken Joy Division’s dense goth-punk sound into a frozen field and detonated it.
—Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
Douville later learned that the trees around him were literally cracking apart, detonating from the inside.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detonate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonate
Verb
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The benign case is that China is doing small-scale testing to ensure its weapons won't explode accidentally.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
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Butler started WeSchool more recently, when interest in at-home learning exploded during the pandemic.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There was a short pursuit on the freeway, which ended when a tire blew on the SUV.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
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Taubitz remains the one to beat, but after her teammate faltered on her third run, the medal competition was blown open.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The tense conversation continued for several minutes before a peculiar discrepancy popped up.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
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So Hernández’s eye-popping rise feels like a major ballot-changing moment.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonate. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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