: 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
Five soldiers almost got killed by a live hand grenade.
—
Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
Agents pushed back demonstrators with a barrage of stinger ball grenades, pepper balls, tear gas and baton rounds.
—Robert Costa, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026
Eventually the federal officers march toward them, firing tear gas and flash grenades before hauling away at least a few people.
—Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
On Wednesday night, an agent reportedly threw flash-bang grenades and tear gas near a car filled with children, causing airbags to deploy, three minors to be hospitalized, and an infant who was in the car to momentarily stop breathing, the child’s mother said.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grenade
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Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
Agents pushed back demonstrators with a barrage of stinger ball grenades, pepper balls, tear gas and baton rounds.
—Robert Costa, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026
Eventually the federal officers march toward them, firing tear gas and flash grenades before hauling away at least a few people.
—Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
On Wednesday night, an agent reportedly threw flash-bang grenades and tear gas near a car filled with children, causing airbags to deploy, three minors to be hospitalized, and an infant who was in the car to momentarily stop breathing, the child’s mother said.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grenade
Cite this Entry
“Grenade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grenade. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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