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

Upon impact, cannonballs would have sent wooden splinters flying like debris from grenades. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 5 Apr. 2026

The attorneys claimed Eklund or Osborn pulled the pin from the hand grenade before the deadly explosion. —Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026

He was struck with 11 bullets from enemy AK-47 fire along with grenade fragments from a nearby explosion. —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026

The grenade is powered by RDX, an explosive material used extensively by the US military for decades. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026

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