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
If they are gravely wounded, they have been instructed to detonate a grenade to avoid being captured alive, holding it under the neck with one hand on the pin as Ukrainian soldiers approach.
—
Marc Santora, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
In one report, a soldier teaches him how to detonate an explosive device.
—Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Egypt is a regional lynchpin containing a potential powder keg of radical sentiment that if detonated would ricochet around the region, puncturing European and US interests.
—Nic Robertson, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
Just a few days before a career Special Forces soldier detonated a rental truck outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas, the U.S. Department of Defense released a report on the mental health of its troops.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detonate
Marc Santora, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
In one report, a soldier teaches him how to detonate an explosive device.
—Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Egypt is a regional lynchpin containing a potential powder keg of radical sentiment that if detonated would ricochet around the region, puncturing European and US interests.
—Nic Robertson, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
Just a few days before a career Special Forces soldier detonated a rental truck outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas, the U.S. Department of Defense released a report on the mental health of its troops.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detonate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonate
Verb
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Then people start getting killed: a fatal injection in the shower, someone who gets shot and falls into an exploding brickhouse of fireworks, and plenty of knives out.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
8 Mar. 2025
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SpaceX's Starship spacecraft, which exploded just minutes into its flight on Thursday, was uncrewed, and no injuries have been reported.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Courtenay Brown Feb 14, 2025 - Economy Trump trade plan intensifies The Trump trade war has blown past the realm of tariffs.—
Courtenay Brown,
Axios,
27 Feb. 2025
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However, buying everything new for your space can get costly and can easily blow your budget.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Finally in November of last year, another one popped up on TheRealReal.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2025
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Original Dallas cast members Larry Hagman (J.R. Ewing), Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing) and Charlene Tilton (Lucy Ewing), for example, initially popped into spinoff Knots Landing, which started out slow and ultimately ran for 14 seasons.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonate. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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