detonation

noun

det·​o·​na·​tion ˌde-tᵊn-ˈā-shən 

ˌde-tə-ˈnā-

1

: the action or process of detonating

2

: rapid combustion in an internal combustion engine that results in knocking

Synonyms

• blast
• blowup
• burst
• bursting
• eruption
• explosion
• outburst

Examples of detonation in a Sentence

there was a series of detonations around the base of the condemned building, causing it to come crashing down in a matter of minutes

Recent Examples on the Web

The military was planning an even higher-altitude detonation that summer — more than 800 miles up. —William J. Broad, New York Times, 19 May 2025

In one of the videos, investigators wrote, Phillips is seen holding a detonation device as another man counts down from five to one. —Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025

In this eastern district, two men were killed and another wounded on May 7 by the detonation of a Russian POM-2 mine laid during the occupation. —Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

And always in the background is our awareness of Mado’s homemade explosive, packed into a lunch pail, awaiting detonation. —Alida Becker, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for detonation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation