grenade

noun

gre·​nade grə-ˈnād 

: a small missile that contains an explosive or a chemical agent (such as tear gas, a flame producer, or a smoke producer) and that is thrown by hand or projected (as by a rifle or special launcher)

Examples of grenade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Authorities have since confirmed that the device appears to be an old grenade. —Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025

At times, he is accused of personally accompanying large shipments guarded by heavily armed teams carrying automatic weapons and grenades. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025

So how would the former reporter handle this live grenade tossed onto the Tribal Council set? —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025

For his part, once freed, the Ghoul sets to work massacring the gang with cartoonish brutality; gotta love the grenade kill at the end, setting off a shower of limbs, blood, and various vital organs. —Jack King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, literally, pomegranate, from Late Latin granata, from Latin, feminine of granatus seedy, from granum grain — more at corn

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing grenade

• concussion grenade
• flash-bang grenade
• flash grenade
• fragmentation grenade
• smoke grenade
• stun grenade

Rhymes for grenade

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

grenade

noun

gre·​nade grə-ˈnād 

: a small bomb that is thrown by hand or launched (as by a rifle)

Etymology

from early French grenade, granade "pomegranate, grenade," from Latin granata "pomegranate," derived from Latin granatus "seedy," from granum "grain, seed" — related to garnet, grain, pomegranate see Word History at garnet