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
The device was secured and detonated by a multi-agency team of operators including personnel from the FBI Bomb Squad, Mobile Police Department Explosive Ordnance Detail, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Bomb Squad, MCSO and the Daphne Search and Rescue Team, according to MAWSS.
—
Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
The Trinity test, conducted as part of the Manhattan Project in the New Mexico desert, detonated a plutonium bomb that released the energy of 25 kilotons of TNT.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
The posture changed dramatically in 1995 when Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb next to a federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 167 people.
—Neil Flanagan, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
The explosives, some of which detonated and some did not, were believed to have been a mix of propane tanks and pipe bombs.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detonate
Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
The Trinity test, conducted as part of the Manhattan Project in the New Mexico desert, detonated a plutonium bomb that released the energy of 25 kilotons of TNT.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
The posture changed dramatically in 1995 when Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb next to a federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 167 people.
—Neil Flanagan, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
The explosives, some of which detonated and some did not, were believed to have been a mix of propane tanks and pipe bombs.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detonate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonate
Verb
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As captain, Poulin got the 35-pound Walter Cup first, lifting it over her head as confetti exploded around her.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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The persistent growth reflects the exploding capital expenditures from hyperscalers, which are snapping up GPUs for their data center computing infrastructure that underpins their AI initiatives.—
Katie Tarasov,Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Interestingly, the blowing agent is derived from oyster shells discarded by the seafood industry, and the magnesium and calcium are sourced as natural byproducts of seawater desalination.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 May 2026
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Arizona had already established a commanding 7-2 lead going into the fourth inning, but the Diamondbacks blew the doors open by putting up a five-spot to take a 10-run lead.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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In the middle of it all—including group shots that pop up all over Instagram in the hours and days that follow—moving easily between the suites, the sidelines, and the cameras, is Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and one of the most powerful figures in American sports.—
Derek C. Blasberg,
Vanity Fair,
19 May 2026
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Betts popped out on the next pitch, stranding them both.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonate. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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