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
Even more importantly, the group's rodents — which are the size of small cats and weigh roughly four lbs. — aren't heavy enough to detonate the pressure-sensitive triggers on the landmines.
—
Johnny Dodd, People.com, 3 May 2025
On Saturday morning, a bomb was detonated at American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs, destroying much of the building, injuring four people and killing the bomber.
—Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Like many Americans, Dr. Garwin grew concerned when Moscow that summer detonated its first atom bomb.
—William J. Broad, New York Times, 19 May 2025
In most instances the shotgun blast damages the drone and the target plunges to the ground, in one (at 0:29 in the video) the drone payload detonates spectacularly.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detonate
Johnny Dodd, People.com, 3 May 2025
On Saturday morning, a bomb was detonated at American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs, destroying much of the building, injuring four people and killing the bomber.
—Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Like many Americans, Dr. Garwin grew concerned when Moscow that summer detonated its first atom bomb.
—William J. Broad, New York Times, 19 May 2025
In most instances the shotgun blast damages the drone and the target plunges to the ground, in one (at 0:29 in the video) the drone payload detonates spectacularly.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 16 May 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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Failing to install the tax would blow an additional $80 million hole in Chicago’s 2026 budget as the city already faces a budget gap of around $1 billion, Budget Director Annette Guzman said.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2025
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Wind blows the dust into the atmosphere and begins moving it westward over the Atlantic Ocean.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2025
Verb
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For example, as messages pop up on your home screen, the time display starts to shrink to accommodate them.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
9 June 2025
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The stablecoin company popped nearly 14%, following its debut on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonate. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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