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

Just as Matt realizes one of the officers killed White Tiger (Kamar de los Reyes), a grenade is launched through the window, and the two vigilantes painfully jump down to the street. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 16 Apr. 2025

Then again, Matt’s whole apartment eventually gets blown up by a grenade, so anyone Matt made sure to leave unconscious is also dead now. —Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025

Gangs also confiscated tear gas and grenades and identity documents belonging to the cops. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025

Troops unknowingly entered an apartment building next to insurgents, and al-Qaeda forces hurled a grenade through a sniper hole, injuring one of the SEALs, Elliott Miller (Cosmo Jarvis). —Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 10 Apr. 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