as in to explode
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
the bomb detonated with a thunder that could be heard for blocks in all directions
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Recent Examples of detonate
What To Know India first tested its nuclear weapons in 1974, becoming the sixth country to detonate a nuclear weapon.
—
Nick Mordowanec
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Her goal is to plant Eva into the lives of the perfect couple like a bomb, set to detonate at their most vulnerable moment.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 30 Apr. 2025
In 2013, three people were killed and hundreds were wounded during the Boston Marathon bombings, when two men detonated homemade bombs at the race's finish line.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Most patients were recovering from injuries sustained before the ceasefire, but sometimes people would arrive after being injured when unexploded bombs had detonated, or damaged buildings had collapsed on them.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detonate
Nick Mordowanec
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Her goal is to plant Eva into the lives of the perfect couple like a bomb, set to detonate at their most vulnerable moment.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 30 Apr. 2025
In 2013, three people were killed and hundreds were wounded during the Boston Marathon bombings, when two men detonated homemade bombs at the race's finish line.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Most patients were recovering from injuries sustained before the ceasefire, but sometimes people would arrive after being injured when unexploded bombs had detonated, or damaged buildings had collapsed on them.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detonate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonate
Verb
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Things quickly turned ugly as Martha’s jealousy of Ida exploded.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
31 May 2025
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Sudan plunged into civil war on April 15, 2023, when simmering tensions between the military and the RSF exploded into open warfare in the capital Khartoum and other parts of the country.—
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
Arkansas Online,
31 May 2025
Verb
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That’s just the beginning, though—keep scrolling for more deals sure to blow you away (no pun intended).—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2025
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The weather can play a role too; rain can wash pollen from the air, while a windy day can blow it around, increasing your allergy symptoms.2 How Can You Prevent Allergy Symptoms?—
Kelly Burch Published,
Verywell Health,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Nvidia shares popped more than 6% in the premarket following the release.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
29 May 2025
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Beginning with Lollapalooza Berlin presented by Telekom, July 12–13, the immersive experiences will also pop up at Lollapalooza stops in Chicago, July 31 – August 3, The Town 2025 in São Paulo, Lollapalooza India in Mumbai and Lollapalooza Brazil.—
Cathy Applefeld Olson,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonate. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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