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
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
Meanwhile, sailors aboard USS Barb reported hearing distant explosions and depth-charge detonations during the same period, believing they may have been associated with an attack on Herring.
—
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026
The unexplained detonation of explosives stored by one of Myanmar’s rebel armies has killed dozens, the militia that controls the village and witnesses said Monday, as the search for survivors continued amid widespread devastation at the site.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 June 2026
Thursday night’s detonation of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket during a static-fire test produced a spectacular fireball over Florida, sending shards of the rocket flying far and wide, into the sea and across the coastal scrubland nearby.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
The fireworks find comes after a fire in a converted garage May 9 led to the detonation of pyrotechnics that reportedly blew a man’s body apart on the 2400 block of Ninth Avenue in the Jefferson Park area.
—City News Service, Daily News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detonation
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Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026
The unexplained detonation of explosives stored by one of Myanmar’s rebel armies has killed dozens, the militia that controls the village and witnesses said Monday, as the search for survivors continued amid widespread devastation at the site.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 June 2026
Thursday night’s detonation of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket during a static-fire test produced a spectacular fireball over Florida, sending shards of the rocket flying far and wide, into the sea and across the coastal scrubland nearby.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
The fireworks find comes after a fire in a converted garage May 9 led to the detonation of pyrotechnics that reportedly blew a man’s body apart on the 2400 block of Ninth Avenue in the Jefferson Park area.
—City News Service, Daily News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detonation
Cite this Entry
“Detonation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detonation. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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