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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detonates
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
The supernova detonates, unleashing an expanding wave of light.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
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
The supernova detonates, unleashing an expanding wave of light.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonates
Verb
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There’s an intimacy to it in the verses, and then there’s a big dynamic jump, an octave jump between the verse and the chorus, which just explodes into this hopeful, optimistic thing.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
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In that kind of disaster scenario, the crew capsule separates from the rocket to save the astronauts, and the rocket explodes into small pieces.—
Charlie Gile,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the wind blows between the Moquith and Moccasin mountains, the velocity increases and carries the sand grains from the sandstone.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The wind buffets and blows inside the cabin, decreasing downforce and making acceleration less efficient.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The robotic characters break free from their restaurant resting place to cause chaos in town, while the villainous Marionette pops up to possess victims for her own nefarious purposes.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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There’s a sturdiness to his game that pops right away, and that usually gets teams’ attention.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detonates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonates. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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