as in explodes
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detonates
After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual.
—
Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
But once in a rare while, the frame detonates into history.
—Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
During a trip to New York, an off-camera exchange detonates the conflict.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Gemma then detonates the device.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.
—EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Toussaint is killed in the penultimate episode after Shagan detonates a bomb on Saskia’s computer.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Welcome to the Engineered Dreamscape Placemaking takes empty space and detonates it with story, spectacle and seduction.
—Bob Bonniol, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025
Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
But once in a rare while, the frame detonates into history.
—Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
During a trip to New York, an off-camera exchange detonates the conflict.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Gemma then detonates the device.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.
—EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Toussaint is killed in the penultimate episode after Shagan detonates a bomb on Saskia’s computer.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Welcome to the Engineered Dreamscape Placemaking takes empty space and detonates it with story, spectacle and seduction.
—Bob Bonniol, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonates
Verb
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Every note just explodes off the instrument.—
Charlie Harding,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
After 10 years of dormancy, the desert explodes with color, attracting visitors and pollinators alike.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The match started off hot with Slater and Alexander trading blows to begin the match.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
Thirty years later, that daughter walks into a therapist’s office — and blows the cover off a landmine she was never meant to touch.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
For every scene that feels false or unnecessary, there is one that works well; for every plot point that feels ticked off a checklist, something surprising pops up.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
-
The Culinary Chef Electric Popcorn Maker is a countertop unit that pops corn using hot air rather than oil.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detonates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonates. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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