detonate

verb det·o·nate \ ˈde-tᵊn-ˌāt , ˈde-tə-ˌnāt \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Examples: detonate in a Sentence

Definition of detonate

detonated; detonating

intransitive verb

: to explode with sudden violence

transitive verb

1 : to cause to detonate

detonate a bomb

— compare deflagrate

2 : to set off in a burst of activity : spark

programs that detonated controversies

—

detonatable

play \-ˌā-tə-bəl, -ˌnā-\ adjective

—

detonative

play \ˈde-tᵊn-ˌā-tiv, ˈde-tə-ˌnā-\ adjective

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Examples of detonate in a Sentence

The first atomic bomb was detonated in 1945.
the bomb detonated with a thunder that could be heard for blocks in all directions

Recent Examples of detonate from the Web

Also in 1970, the group detonated two-inflight airliners.

— Jewish Journal, "Shin Bet confirms it thwarted attempts on lives of Israeli leaders," 5 June 2018
The attacker detonated a device near a large tent in the Afghan capital where thousands of clerics had met to call for an end to the violence, said Hashmatullah Stanikzai, a spokesman for the Kabul police.

— New York Times, "Bomber Attacks Afghan Scholars Gathered to Denounce Violence," 4 June 2018
The stun grenades detonate, producing a concussive blast of 180 decibels.

— anthony lane, The New Yorker, "Bill Clinton and James Patterson’s Concussive Collaboration," 3 June 2018
The two suspects fled the restaurant immediately after detonating the device, according to police.

— eli meixler, Time, "'Everything Was Destroyed.' A Bombing at a Restaurant in Ontario Injures 15 People," 25 May 2018
The two men fled after detonating the improvised explosive device, police said.

— reuters, Washington Post, "UPDATE 1-Canada police seek suspects in restaurant bombing, 15 injured," 25 May 2018
The bomber, 23-year-old Mark Anthony Conditt, died after detonating an explosive during a confrontation with law enforcement.

— Fox News, "Man arrested in connection with suspicious packages at DC-area military bases," 28 Mar. 2018
Conditt died after detonating a explosive device early Wednesday as SWAT team officers ran toward his vehicle to arrest him in an Austin suburb.

— CBS News, "Austin bombing suspect called himself a "psychopath," congressman says," 25 Mar. 2018
Conditt died after detonating a explosive device early Wednesday as SWAT team officers ran toward his vehicle to arrest him in an Austin suburb.

— NBC News, "Austin bomb suspect described himself as a 'psychopath' in confession," 25 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'detonate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of detonate

French détoner to explode, from Latin detonare to expend thunder, from de- + tonare to thunder — more at ¹thunder

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First Known Use: 1729

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

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DETONATE Defined for English Language Learners

detonate

verb

Definition of detonate for English Language Learners

: to explode or to cause (something, such as a bomb) to explode

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See words that rhyme with detonate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for detonate Spanish Central: Translation of detonate Nglish: Translation of detonate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of detonate for Arabic speakers

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detonate

Definition of detonate

detonatable

detonative

Examples of detonate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of detonate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of detonate

detonate Synonyms

Synonyms

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DETONATE Defined for English Language Learners

detonate

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