detonated 1 of 2

Definition of detonatednext

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
In April, the image of Christ’s betrayer was replaced by a 23-foot effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, detonated to the cheers of townspeople and tourists. David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026 For instance, in 2015 at a match between France and Germany, two explosive devices were detonated outside the Stade d’France in Paris by individuals wearing suicide vests. Simon Chadwick, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026 On Wednesday, Matthew Pletz, 57, and Jack Pletz, 25, were both charged with weapons of mass destruction, risking catastrophe and more after an explosive device detonated in Catasauqua during Tuesday's primary election. Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 20 May 2026 The Defense Ministry said in a terse statement that soldiers discovered a bomb that was ready to be detonated in the central Bab Sharqi district of Damascus. ABC News, 19 May 2026 The device was secured and detonated by a multi-agency team of operators including personnel from the FBI Bomb Squad, Mobile Police Department Explosive Ordnance Detail, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Bomb Squad, MCSO and the Daphne Search and Rescue Team, according to MAWSS. Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026 The Trinity test, conducted as part of the Manhattan Project in the New Mexico desert, detonated a plutonium bomb that released the energy of 25 kilotons of TNT. Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 11 May 2026 The explosives, some of which detonated and some did not, were believed to have been a mix of propane tanks and pipe bombs. Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026 On May 4, 1886, a bomb detonated during protests and police officers fired shots. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonated
Adjective
  • Astronomically, the Beehive is considered an open star cluster, a group of young stars that formed from the same hydrogen nebula, sprinkled with heavier elements from a long-since exploded star.
    Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Figure 2 shows an exploded view of this block (shown as part of the data pipeline in Figure 1).
    Sabbir Rangwala, Forbes.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In October 1969, a message popped up on a computer screen at Stanford University in Northern California.
    Laura Isensee, Scientific American, 18 May 2026
  • That’s when the light bulb popped to combine the nutrient-dense lupini beans into a high-quality durum wheat pasta.
    Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
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
Verb
  • Authorities said a tractor-trailer car hauler blew a tire while traveling eastbound on I-10 near Valencia Road, causing the truck to hit a guardrail, roll into the median and burst into flames, CBS affiliate KOLD reported.
    Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
  • The smoke from the island fire blew east to the California coast and will be impacting air quality early this week, the National Weather Service in San Diego reported.
    Eric Mack, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Adjective
  • At Remedy Burger, deliciously cheeky burgers satisfy anyone and everyone in your crew, like the signature Remedy Burger, with double smashed patties, and the Broccoli Burger, a uniquely veggie twist on typical burger fare.
    Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
  • Above him, the attackers shattered monitors, severed electrical wires and smashed pipes.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • According to police, a person who was sitting inside the vehicle when it was struck received minor injuries from the shattered windshield glass.
    Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 18 May 2026
  • Later, a long close-up of a shattered glass of milk works neither as visual rhyme with the snowy setting nor dramatic insight.
    Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Detonated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonated. Accessed 24 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on detonated

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster