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detonate

verb det·o·nate \ ˈde-tᵊn-ˌāt , ˈde-tə-ˌnāt \
|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

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

  1. The first atomic bomb was detonated in 1945.

  2. the bomb detonated with a thunder that could be heard for blocks in all directions

Recent Examples of detonate from the Web

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

detonate Synonyms

Synonyms

blow, blow up, burst, explode, go off, pop;

Antonyms

implode;

Near Antonyms

collapse, fizzle;

Related Words

fragment, shatter, smash, splinter;

discharge, fire, shoot;

balloon, burgeon (also bourgeon), mushroom;

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

Learn More about detonate

  1. 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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