grenade

noun

gre·​nade grə-ˈnād 

: a small missile that contains an explosive or a chemical agent (such as tear gas, a flame producer, or a smoke producer) and that is thrown by hand or projected (as by a rifle or special launcher)

Examples of grenade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mind you, the entire infantry kit in those days didn't go far beyond a rifle, bayonet, canteen, mess tins, and an entrenching tool balanced with the odd hand grenade. —New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025

And, in this scenario, Hamas would commit to hold only defensive weapons, such as rifles and grenades and pistols. —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025

Police used at least one flash-bang grenade to disperse demonstrators blocking the entrance as CBP vehicles entered the facility. —Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

Police used at least one flash-bang grenade to clear a handful of demonstrators from the entrance as CBP vehicles drove onto the base. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, literally, pomegranate, from Late Latin granata, from Latin, feminine of granatus seedy, from granum grain — more at corn

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing grenade

• concussion grenade
• flash-bang grenade
• flash grenade
• fragmentation grenade
• smoke grenade
• stun grenade

Rhymes for grenade

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

grenade

noun

gre·​nade grə-ˈnād 

: a small bomb that is thrown by hand or launched (as by a rifle)

Etymology

from early French grenade, granade "pomegranate, grenade," from Latin granata "pomegranate," derived from Latin granatus "seedy," from granum "grain, seed" — related to garnet, grain, pomegranate see Word History at garnet