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
Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Still, Nevo's mind often drifts to the moment in Gaza when Palestinian militants detonated explosives in a home, wounding him and killing two close friends in his army unit.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
And then, after Nakashima sent a first serve back into the middle with good depth, slightly tucking the Spaniard up, Alcaraz shuffled backward and detonated an inside-in forehand to win the match.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
In 1964, China detonated a 22-kiloton nuclear device at a test site in the arid northwestern Xinjiang region—and the political fallout reached Washington.
—Mariano-Florentino CuÉllar, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2025
Instead, the redesign detonated a culture war.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
The shell was safely detonated in the woods near a local compost area by the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad the day it was found, authorities said.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Season 2 followed the aftermath of the events in Season 1, which ended with a bomb being detonated in central London.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
The drone snagged on the netting, then detonated.
—Ken Harbaugh, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Authorities determined the package was not explosive but detonated it out of an abundance of caution, a USU spokesperson told Newsweek in an email Tuesday evening.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Still, Nevo's mind often drifts to the moment in Gaza when Palestinian militants detonated explosives in a home, wounding him and killing two close friends in his army unit.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
And then, after Nakashima sent a first serve back into the middle with good depth, slightly tucking the Spaniard up, Alcaraz shuffled backward and detonated an inside-in forehand to win the match.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
In 1964, China detonated a 22-kiloton nuclear device at a test site in the arid northwestern Xinjiang region—and the political fallout reached Washington.
—Mariano-Florentino CuÉllar, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2025
Instead, the redesign detonated a culture war.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
The shell was safely detonated in the woods near a local compost area by the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad the day it was found, authorities said.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Season 2 followed the aftermath of the events in Season 1, which ended with a bomb being detonated in central London.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
The drone snagged on the netting, then detonated.
—Ken Harbaugh, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonated
Verb
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The 44,655 fans, Toronto’s highest attendance of the year, exploded over and over.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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The 2024 sixth-round pick out of Southeast Missouri State — yes, that is a real school that plays football — exploded in the first half for five receptions for 104 yards to help set up multiple Cowboys scores.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Oct. 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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An iridescent, three-dimensional butterfly reminiscent of the singer's Lover era popped up as the centerpiece of the gift, and a card with the Grammy winner's full name was set below the sparkling figurine.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
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Dawes popped late in the year when he was elevated to starter for his last two games, putting up 21 points and 15 rebounds in a Big 12 tourney loss to UCF and then 19 points and 11 rebounds in a loss to Butler in the Crown.—
CJ Moore,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The cheeseburger is a smashed Fischer Farm Patty with griddled onions, iceberg lettuce, sharp American cheese, pickles and Toasty sauce.—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
18 Sep. 2025
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Available or dine-in only, the burger is a smashed patty topped with American cheese, pickles, onion, mayo and mustard.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Apparently, Grier forgot his own words, because the lines that the Dolphins have built are collectively their worst this decade, something evident in a crushing 27-24 loss to Carolina, a game in which Miami blew a 17-0 lead.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
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Whalen described one recent encounter where a homeless person blew fentanyl smoke in his face.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The shattered glass remained in its frame in the images.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
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After struggling with life inside a Greenland bunker, the anxious Garrity family decides to leave that safety and navigate a shattered and radioactive wasteland of Europe to find a new home.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detonated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonated. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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