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
Israel’s concentration on destroying Gaza City’s infrastructure has utilized a variety of means, including heavy bombs and, recently, old armored vehicles laden with a large amount of explosives and detonated via remote control.
—
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2025
Written by Herskovitz and directed by Zwick, the film about a terrorist group’s threat to detonate a nuclear bomb in Charleston, SC proved a ratings and critical winner.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Russia will test a new laser system designed to take out mines without detonating the explosive devices, state media reported on Thursday.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
When in range, the fire command was given and the Claymore detonated.
—New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detonate
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2025
Written by Herskovitz and directed by Zwick, the film about a terrorist group’s threat to detonate a nuclear bomb in Charleston, SC proved a ratings and critical winner.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Russia will test a new laser system designed to take out mines without detonating the explosive devices, state media reported on Thursday.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
When in range, the fire command was given and the Claymore detonated.
—New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detonate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonate
Verb
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Microwave ovens, which came along much later, enjoyed more widespread ownership and usage, both above 90%, in spite of urban legends about how microwaves will explode your pets and lower sperm counts.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Previous estimates have suggested that the largest possible black holes would take longer than the hypothesized lifetime of the universe to explode.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As health restrictions discouraged people from blowing directly into instruments, Gajewski and Brown reimagined the design.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
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Soldiers have also been spotted in parks carrying out tasks typically assigned to gardeners and landscapers – shoveling mulch, blowing leaves and scooping up trash.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hey Alexa, create an image of traders popping champagne in the New York Stock Exchange.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
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The costumes and production design are all Jacques Demy by way of Anthropologie, color-popped to impose personality on the personality-less (and with Bright Eyes and Mitski on the soundtrack to reinforce the indie tweeness).—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonate. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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