detonated 1 of 2

adjective

as in exploded

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detonated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of detonate
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 detonated
Verb
It was detonated by remote control from an offshore yacht following a signal by one of the men watching the site. — Reuters, NBC news, 2 July 2026 Flag football detonated at a crucial time for the NFL and the sport in general. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Once detonated, fireworks release fine particulate matter that can degrade air quality for hours or even days. — Char Miller, Time, 30 June 2026 On Thursday, an explosive device detonated in a cafe near the Justice Palace, killing at least 10 people and wounding more than 20. — Omar Albam, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 The Manhattan Project detonated the world’s first atomic bomb at Alamogordo, New Mexico. — USA Today, 29 June 2026 At least four people were killed after an explosive device was detonated in a Damascus cafe Thursday, Syria's Interior Ministry said. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 On June 9, explosives planted under a BMW detonated as the driver began leaving a parking lot, according to independent Russian outlet The Insider. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 It is now surrounded by fencing and ominous signs that read DANGER EXPLOSIVES and show a bomb being detonated. — Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonated
  1. exploded
  2. popped
  3. blasted
  4. blew
  5. smashed
  6. shattered
Adjective
  • If, for David Lynch, ideas are like fish in a river, then for Danish provocateur Nicolas Winding Refn, those ideas are like chunks of excrement in an exploded sewage pipe.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 May 2026
  • Ask for exploded drawings, parts catalogs and repair manuals.
    — Romain Pison, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of exploded
Verb
  • Eli White popped a ball up to shallow center field for what should have been the third out.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
  • This time, Arsenal popped City 5-1 and Gabriel very much enjoyed laughing and celebrating in Haaland’s face.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of popped
Adjective
  • With more than a dozen varieties grown in and around SoCal, in 2026 alone, heads (of cabbage) will roll if Angelenos can’t get their fix of this vitamin-rich, potassium-laden, calcium-blasted antioxidant VIP in 2026.
    — Rebecca Leib, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Definition of blasted
Verb
  • After the final whistle blew and this Norway team had made history, Haaland took a moment and looked into the Norwegian cheering section, trying to process what had just happened.
    — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 July 2026
  • There were also great chances for Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old Spanish star, but nothing that got over the line and into the back of the net before the first half whistle blew.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of blew
Adjective
  • Roughly chop the smashed cucumbers before tossing them with the vinaigrette.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026
  • In a little cove below the falls, five feet of smashed canvas and wood testified to the fate of the canoe that had dumped.
    — Marc Terziev, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2026
Definition of smashed
Adjective
  • At some parties during the American Revolution, hosts suffered shattered glasses, servingware and even furniture.
    — Brooke Barbier, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • The ex-president saw shattered tiles in the roadway and homeless people sleeping on street corners in a city whose police department had recommended drivers stay in the middle lane to avoid carjackers.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of shattered

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Cite this Entry

“Detonated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonated. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on detonated

Nglish: Translation of detonated for Spanish Speakers

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