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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as in exploded
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Recent Examples of detonated
Abel Alvarado, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
His wife, Shannon, a Navy cryptologist, was killed in 2019 along with three other Americans when a suicide bomber detonated his vest outside a restaurant in Manbij, in northern Syria.
—arkansasonline.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Unhappy with the direction of his career, the 31-year-old director intentionally detonated it by going back to his hometown of Baton Rouge to make this $250,000 experimental film, starring himself, with a small crew of close collaborators over the course of nine months.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
On June 20, 2016, a suicide bomber acting for ISIS-K detonated a bomb that killed at least 10 embassy guards and multiple civilians and wounded other soldiers guarding the Canadian embassy in Kabul.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Most of the iron in our blood and the sulfur in our amino acids originated in stars that detonated billions of years ago.
—Jayson Stewart, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2025
Again, the devices were safely detonated.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2025
Multiple unexploded mortars were found and safely detonated at an airfield in Washington State, authorities said Thursday.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2025
Fireworks, gas tanks and camping fuel in the truck's bed are believed to have been detonated using a device operated by the driver.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Stash houses were detonated; suspects detained.
—Abel Alvarado, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
His wife, Shannon, a Navy cryptologist, was killed in 2019 along with three other Americans when a suicide bomber detonated his vest outside a restaurant in Manbij, in northern Syria.
—arkansasonline.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Unhappy with the direction of his career, the 31-year-old director intentionally detonated it by going back to his hometown of Baton Rouge to make this $250,000 experimental film, starring himself, with a small crew of close collaborators over the course of nine months.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
On June 20, 2016, a suicide bomber acting for ISIS-K detonated a bomb that killed at least 10 embassy guards and multiple civilians and wounded other soldiers guarding the Canadian embassy in Kabul.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Most of the iron in our blood and the sulfur in our amino acids originated in stars that detonated billions of years ago.
—Jayson Stewart, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2025
Again, the devices were safely detonated.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2025
Multiple unexploded mortars were found and safely detonated at an airfield in Washington State, authorities said Thursday.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2025
Fireworks, gas tanks and camping fuel in the truck's bed are believed to have been detonated using a device operated by the driver.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonated
Verb
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First, the report represents billions of dollars in AI funding in dots, and shows visually how the field exploded in the last 10 years.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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The house that exploded is completely destroyed.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Her ballerina background, however, is fairly extraneous, even with De Armas made to stare solemnly at that blasted music box during her rare moments of rest.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
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The watch measure 44 mm, is made from blasted titanium and features a honeycomb skeletonization of the case that reduces the weight by 50 percent, Ross told Robb Report.—
Allen Farmelo,
Robb Report,
6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The signature purple glow has popped up, then disappeared, across the country as the lamps slowly fail and are replaced.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2025
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A week later, his name popped up on a list of Venezuelans who were being held at the Central American mega prison.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Customers looking for a punch of protein can add rotisserie-style chicken or steak at no additional cost or can pay extra for a scoop of smashed avocado.—
Sabrina Weiss,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Video from the crash site showed a silver Infiniti SUV with damage to the hood and a smashed windshield.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detonated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonated. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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