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

But this new research suggests that these findings from last year might not be a cosmic hand grenade thrown into the cosmological apple cart, but instead may have actually emerged from a scientific misunderstanding. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 22 June 2026

Indiana treated the basketball like a live grenade down the stretch. —Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026

Several blocks of homes in Compton were evacuated on Saturday after someone found a grenade in their garage, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies said. —Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 14 June 2026

In one area south of Hitsats, a grenade was thrown into a mine, killing as many as six miners and injuring many more, according to two eyewitnesses. —Claire Wilmot & Gisa Tunbridge, The Dial, 12 June 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