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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detonate
Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.
—
EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
When in range, the fire command was given and the Claymore detonated.
—New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2025
According to South Korean intelligence, there was at least one incident in which a North Korean soldier seeking to avoid capture by Ukrainian forces was killed while trying to detonate a grenade and shouting Kim’s name.
—Stella Kim, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2025
Toussaint is killed in the penultimate episode after Shagan detonates a bomb on Saskia’s computer.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detonate
EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
When in range, the fire command was given and the Claymore detonated.
—New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2025
According to South Korean intelligence, there was at least one incident in which a North Korean soldier seeking to avoid capture by Ukrainian forces was killed while trying to detonate a grenade and shouting Kim’s name.
—Stella Kim, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2025
Toussaint is killed in the penultimate episode after Shagan detonates a bomb on Saskia’s computer.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detonate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonate
Verb
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Conclave feels like a very architectural, sparse, mathematical film, [whereas] Ballad felt to me like a chaotic pop opera that explodes at the seams.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
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Just a couple of years later, his profile exploded.—
Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell,
The Atlantic,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Cleveland Browns blew both a golden opportunity at what would’ve been the surprise upset of Week 1 and a chance to add to the Cincinnati Bengals’ early-season misery of the past few years.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The advisories and closures popped up across the East Coast, from Florida to Maine, along inland streams and rivers, and were present throughout the California coast.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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Most taxpayers hope to interact with tax authorities as little as possible—a call to ask a quick question, a click on the IRS website, or a scrawled note on a tax bill popped in the mail.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonate. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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