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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in exploded
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Recent Examples of detonated
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2025
In September 2024, Israel blew up the group’s pagers, causing gruesome injuries as the devices detonated in Hezbollah operatives’ pockets.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
An Israeli air force official said that for the first time, a Houthi missile contained a number of sub-munitions, which were intended to be detonated upon impact.
—Eyad Kourdi, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
When in range, the fire command was given and the Claymore detonated.
—New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2025
Now, remember that the Hiroshima bomb detonated at about 650 meters in the air, and the speed of sound is 343 meters per second.
—Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Alberta’s 2001 Chisholm fire released so much energy that someone in Washington thought that Canada had detonated a nuclear bomb.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
A lot depends on how close to the facility any of the bombs detonated.
—Samuel Granados, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
An estimated 60,000 died in the single blast in Hiroshima, and about 40,000 more died three days later when a similar bomb was detonated over Nagasaki.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Israel’s concentration on destroying Gaza City’s infrastructure has utilized a variety of means, including heavy bombs and, recently, old armored vehicles laden with a large amount of explosives and detonated via remote control.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2025
In September 2024, Israel blew up the group’s pagers, causing gruesome injuries as the devices detonated in Hezbollah operatives’ pockets.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
An Israeli air force official said that for the first time, a Houthi missile contained a number of sub-munitions, which were intended to be detonated upon impact.
—Eyad Kourdi, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
When in range, the fire command was given and the Claymore detonated.
—New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2025
Now, remember that the Hiroshima bomb detonated at about 650 meters in the air, and the speed of sound is 343 meters per second.
—Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Alberta’s 2001 Chisholm fire released so much energy that someone in Washington thought that Canada had detonated a nuclear bomb.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
A lot depends on how close to the facility any of the bombs detonated.
—Samuel Granados, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
An estimated 60,000 died in the single blast in Hiroshima, and about 40,000 more died three days later when a similar bomb was detonated over Nagasaki.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonated
Verb
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But his career really exploded a couple of years later, thanks to his starring role as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.—
Keith Langston,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
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Seguin shut out Burleson 21-0, and Martin’s offense exploded for 74 points in a victory over Mansfield.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Ripley spent four movies trying to keep the blasted things off our home world, but those pesky Xenomorphs are coming planetside anyway in Alien: Earth, the new Alien TV series.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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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
Verb
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For example, whenever his father-in-law’s name popped up on Adam’s phone, Adam got tense.—
Josh Davis,
Fortune,
17 Sep. 2025
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The stock popped at the news and was up 7% by Wednesday's close.—
Julie Coleman,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The scenes were shown in season 1 episode 2, when Billy Bob Thornton’s character goes to the hospital for a smashed finger.—
Brayden Garcia
July 10,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 July 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
Verb
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More Ramirez/Getty Images On Thursday, after his team blew a 4-0 first-inning lead to lose 6-4 in the Phillies series finale, Mendoza accepted blame for the team's current skid.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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Sean Brock has been on a mission to create the perfect pizza after a meal at the pizza joint Savoy in Japan completely blew his mind.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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If clinical trials continue to confirm these results, this could be a major shift in orthopedic surgery, especially for complex fractures (like shattered bones from accidents).—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
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Israeli special forces, ambulances and rescue workers rushed to the attack site where bloodstained pavements were littered with shattered glass from bus windows damaged in the shooting.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detonated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonated. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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