as in exploded
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as in popped
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 detonated
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Instead, the round detonated prematurely at 453 meters, or about 1,486 feet, in the air, around 3,300 feet from its firing location, according to the report.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
The bomb that was thrown didn’t go off, causing nothing but smoke, but an investigation later revealed it was packed with explosive material, plus metal nuts and bolts inside that could have been deadly if detonated.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
The roar of the fire was punctuated by a series of explosions as propane tanks and vehicles detonated, one after the next.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Police said that that blaze was caused by an explosive device that detonated at the synagogue.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
In Lebanon and parts of Syria, Israel detonated thousands of pagers of Hezbollah officials and bombed the group’s headquarters in southern Beirut, killing its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
When news broke in 2013 that bombs packed with fireworks powder had detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon and Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were being hunted, executives at Phantom Fireworks did not wait for a phone call.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Fortunately, neither explosive device at Gracie Mansion actually detonated, and no one was hurt.
—Juliette Kayyem, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Will a nuclear bomb be detonated?
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Instead, the round detonated prematurely at 453 meters, or about 1,486 feet, in the air, around 3,300 feet from its firing location, according to the report.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
The bomb that was thrown didn’t go off, causing nothing but smoke, but an investigation later revealed it was packed with explosive material, plus metal nuts and bolts inside that could have been deadly if detonated.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
The roar of the fire was punctuated by a series of explosions as propane tanks and vehicles detonated, one after the next.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Police said that that blaze was caused by an explosive device that detonated at the synagogue.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
In Lebanon and parts of Syria, Israel detonated thousands of pagers of Hezbollah officials and bombed the group’s headquarters in southern Beirut, killing its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
When news broke in 2013 that bombs packed with fireworks powder had detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon and Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were being hunted, executives at Phantom Fireworks did not wait for a phone call.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Fortunately, neither explosive device at Gracie Mansion actually detonated, and no one was hurt.
—Juliette Kayyem, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonated
Adjective
-
Figure 2 shows an exploded view of this block (shown as part of the data pipeline in Figure 1).—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, each page is just one fragment of an exploded jigsaw puzzle, and trying to assemble that puzzle without all the pieces (and without knowing what a complete picture should look like) is proving difficult for even the most seasoned experts on Epstein’s and Maxwell’s crimes.—
Amy Wallace,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As the vast landscape spread out below, filled with roaming herds and golden hues, our guest popped the question—creating a moment both magical and unforgettable.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
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One critique that popped up around One Battle had to do with the campaign’s strenuous avoidance of saying anything political.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Each earbud is made from polished aluminum and housed in a pearl-blasted charging case made from natural aluminum.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Shouldn't even be that hard to sharpen the blasted thing, let alone twist it.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Jalen Brunson scored 17 points and OG Anunoby finished with 16 for the Knicks, who trailed by 13 points in the first half, then blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
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Startled shoppers were knocked off their feet as Crosby blew by them.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The brand, which has more than 15 locations nationwide, is known for its smashed donuts, which are fresh, warm doughnut sandwiches with a cold ice cream center.—
Bailey Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Mar. 2026
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There are fusion mashups that feel unmistakably American, like a smashed burger wrapped in paratha bread.—
Monti Carlo,
AJC.com,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Investigators also allegedly found broken glass scattered through the home, a shattered microwave, and bleach wipes and spray bottles.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
And then fraud, which, looking back, was inevitable given our shattered and incompetent leadership.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detonated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonated. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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