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
No, a restaurant where conviviality flows like a broken water main, and the food is rich, comforting and detonating with flavor.
—
Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 16 Mar. 2026
Some mines are programmed to ignore the first ship that passes, detonating only on the fifth, just so that the mine-clearing team goes through safely and the tanker behind it takes the hit.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
Experts also reported little evidence that Iran is actively resuming its efforts to enrich uranium, let alone building a bomb-detonating mechanism.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
There are other photographs of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor taken in dark rooms with a flash detonating straight into his face.
—Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
Built with a high-strength steel casing, it is engineered to withstand impacts from dense materials before detonating.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 16 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, 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.
—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
Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 16 Mar. 2026
Some mines are programmed to ignore the first ship that passes, detonating only on the fifth, just so that the mine-clearing team goes through safely and the tanker behind it takes the hit.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
Experts also reported little evidence that Iran is actively resuming its efforts to enrich uranium, let alone building a bomb-detonating mechanism.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
There are other photographs of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor taken in dark rooms with a flash detonating straight into his face.
—Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
Built with a high-strength steel casing, it is engineered to withstand impacts from dense materials before detonating.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 16 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, 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.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonating
Verb
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But the affordability backlash is on the brink of exploding in another sector of the economy, where the AI boom is already raising the price of consumer electronics.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
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The deals are exploding all over Amazon's Big Spring Sale, and all of the top computer brands are getting in on the action.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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The Field of 68 pointed out that each of Duke's last four NCAA Tournament losses came by blowing a double-digit lead.—
Megan Armstrong,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Bronx natives say popping up in the bodega was the natural choice.—
Jessi Roti,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
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Bodnar said popping noises lasted for about 90 seconds.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detonating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonating. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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