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
Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
The catastrophe at a Tennessee explosives plant started in a building that made devices used for mining and detonated more than 24,000 pounds of explosives, authorities said Friday.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Two months later, on February 26, 1993, al-Qaeda detonated a truck bomb beneath the World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring more than a thousand.
—Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
The artillery round detonated mid-flight and failed to clear the roadway, the CHP said.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
The Soviet Union detonated its first device four years after Hiroshima.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 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
Adjective
When an explosion rocked Humphreys and Hickman counties, killing 16 people at Accurate Energetic Systems, more than 24,000 pounds of explosives detonated.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
The catastrophe at a Tennessee explosives plant started in a building that made devices used for mining and detonated more than 24,000 pounds of explosives, authorities said Friday.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Two months later, on February 26, 1993, al-Qaeda detonated a truck bomb beneath the World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring more than a thousand.
—Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
The artillery round detonated mid-flight and failed to clear the roadway, the CHP said.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
The Soviet Union detonated its first device four years after Hiroshima.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonated
Verb
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But then, in the second group phase — consisting of four groups of three, in the first 24-team World Cup — Italy exploded into life despite a very tough draw, defeating holders Argentina and favourites Brazil.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
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The Eagles' passing offense exploded in Week 7 against Minnesota for a season-high 316 passing yards in the 28-22 win on the road.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
26 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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Smaller efforts popped up in Greenland over the years, but nothing came to fruition.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
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But the aesthetic marked by rumpled Oxford shirts and popped polos has also found fertile ground in France, a nation famously resistant to Americanization.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Aerial video of the aftermath also showed a red helicopter on its side with a smashed cockpit window and debris scattered over the highway surface.—
Diego Mendoza,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
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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
Verb
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After the final whistle blew at Memorial Stadium, Kiffin made some headlines for his postgame behavior toward an Oklahoma player.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
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But as the team was celebrating, the officials on the field blew the play dead and gave Philadelphia the first down.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Investigators believe a river rock found near the shattered glass was used to break the window, Enriquez added.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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This is unlike the beautiful sadness in Anderson’s films, which is entirely full (often to bursting) with humans and their shattered interiors.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detonated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonated. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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