as in exploding
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 detonating
The statement said the attacker on Friday opened fire on security guards who tried to stop him at the main gate before detonating his explosive vest after reaching the mosque's inner gate.
—
Munir Ahmed, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
The statement said the attacker on Friday opened fire on security guards who tried to stop him at the main gate before detonating his explosive vest after reaching the mosque’s inner gate.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
The statement said the attacker on Friday opened fire on security guards who tried to stop him at the main gate before detonating his explosive vest after reaching the mosque's inner gate.
—CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
Two Swedes were convicted in a Danish court of terrorism and attempted murder for detonating two hand grenades near the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen in October 2024.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Douville later learned that the trees around him were literally cracking apart, detonating from the inside.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Jayme Thornton Crossfire’s approach of detonating water balloons in midair—which has yet to be patented so the team would not describe it in detail—could eventually change the calculation about how much suppressant is needed to fight fires.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Dec. 2025
That was most evident with the two brothers who orchestrated the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, detonating two pressure-cooker bombs near the finish line that killed three people and injured more than 260 others.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
Ships are on sanctions list Naval drones are uncrewed speed boats packed with explosives that sail towards their targets before detonating.
—Reuters, NBC news, 30 Nov. 2025
Munir Ahmed, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
The statement said the attacker on Friday opened fire on security guards who tried to stop him at the main gate before detonating his explosive vest after reaching the mosque’s inner gate.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
The statement said the attacker on Friday opened fire on security guards who tried to stop him at the main gate before detonating his explosive vest after reaching the mosque's inner gate.
—CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
Two Swedes were convicted in a Danish court of terrorism and attempted murder for detonating two hand grenades near the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen in October 2024.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Douville later learned that the trees around him were literally cracking apart, detonating from the inside.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Jayme Thornton Crossfire’s approach of detonating water balloons in midair—which has yet to be patented so the team would not describe it in detail—could eventually change the calculation about how much suppressant is needed to fight fires.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Dec. 2025
That was most evident with the two brothers who orchestrated the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, detonating two pressure-cooker bombs near the finish line that killed three people and injured more than 260 others.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
Ships are on sanctions list Naval drones are uncrewed speed boats packed with explosives that sail towards their targets before detonating.
—Reuters, NBC news, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonating
Verb
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Ratner, of course, earned Hollywood over $2 billion with his blockbusters about gunfire and exploding cars.—
Amy Nicholson,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
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Waterfield opted to stay in California; Russell's career was exploding.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Small armies of residents still gather to observe federal officers from cars or on foot – honking horns and blowing whistles to alert neighbors.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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After blowing a 22-point lead in Friday’s loss to the Celtics in Boston, the Heat closed its quick two-game trip at 1-1.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For nearly 50 years, Cort worked steadily in Hollywood, popping up in films by Robert Altman and Wes Anderson, as well as a variety of television shows.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
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Just looking out the window or listening to the burners rolling full-blast in your furnace can be the tell-tale sign that a potentially eye-popping bill is on the way.—
John Shumway,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detonating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonating. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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