detonate
verb
det·o·nate
ˈde-tᵊn-ˌāt 
ˈde-tə-ˌnāt
detonated; detonating
: to explode with sudden violence
1
: to cause to detonate
detonate a bomb
compare deflagrate
2
: to set off in a burst of activity : spark
programs that detonated controversies
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 on the Web
Two days later, a shell landed in his trench and detonated, tearing off his leg.
—
Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2024
This leads the bomber to ensnare Reeves’ character in another scheme that involves a bomb placed on a city bus that will detonate if the vehicle‘s speed drops below 50 mph.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024
Melania writes that she was impressed by the raid, but left before its climax: Al-Baghdadi, cornered by military dogs in an underground tunnel, detonated a suicide vest, killing himself.
—Dan Morrison, USA TODAY, 8 Oct. 2024
In an Israeli intelligence operation, Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies laced with explosives were detonated last month, killing at 37 people and injuring nearly 3,000.
—Byjason Ma, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for detonate 
Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2024
This leads the bomber to ensnare Reeves’ character in another scheme that involves a bomb placed on a city bus that will detonate if the vehicle‘s speed drops below 50 mph.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024
Melania writes that she was impressed by the raid, but left before its climax: Al-Baghdadi, cornered by military dogs in an underground tunnel, detonated a suicide vest, killing himself.
—Dan Morrison, USA TODAY, 8 Oct. 2024
In an Israeli intelligence operation, Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies laced with explosives were detonated last month, killing at 37 people and injuring nearly 3,000.
—Byjason Ma, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for detonate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'detonate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near detonate
Cite this Entry
“Detonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detonate. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detonate
verb
det·o·nate
ˈdet-ᵊn-ˌāt
ˈdet-ə-ˌnāt
detonated; detonating
: to explode or cause to explode with sudden violence
detonation
noun
ˌdet-ᵊn-ˈā-shən
ˌdet-ə-ˈnā-
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