DETONATE Synonyms: 21 Similar and Opposite Words

detonate

verb

ˈde-tᵊn-ˌāt

Definition of detonate

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of detonate She is widely remembered as the first Palestinian woman to carry out a suicide bombing, although accounts indicate that the device may have detonated unexpectedly. — Sara Harmouch, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026 The bombs didn’t detonate, and the two suburban teens were arrested almost instantly. — Jeff Winter, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026 The missile, called a PrSM—for precision-strike missile—detonates midair and spreads thousands of small tungsten fragments in all directions. — Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026 In December 2023, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the main gate of a police station in Dera Ismail Khan, killing at least 23 security personnel in one of the area’s deadliest attacks. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detonate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonate

Verb

The story effectively went viral, Churchill told me, and lock-picking competitions briefly exploded in popularity.

— Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Shares exploded higher by as much as 211% but retreated from those peaks and are starting to form an interesting baseline.

— Jay Woods, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of explode

Verb

But the administration blew past a Sunday evening deadline and ran two of the ads into the early hours of Monday, advertising data from AdImpact shows.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
The Commanders scored a touchdown two minutes into the game and never trailed, yet still blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of blow

Verb

Mahomes’ rapid recovery from last year’s ACL/LCL catastrophe is great news for Kansas City fans and the NFL’s TV/streaming partners, as he and the Chiefs are slated to pop up in as many as 12 national windows before the playoffs arrive.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2026
K-pop has historically been an industry that holds idols — the name given to pop stars in the Korean entertainment industry — to an extremely high standard.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of pop

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dethroning

detonate

detonated

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“Detonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonate. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of detonate

verb

Example Sentences

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