as in explodes
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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Recent Examples of detonates
After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual.
—
Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
But once in a rare while, the frame detonates into history.
—Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
During a trip to New York, an off-camera exchange detonates the conflict.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Gemma then detonates the device.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.
—EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Toussaint is killed in the penultimate episode after Shagan detonates a bomb on Saskia’s computer.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Welcome to the Engineered Dreamscape Placemaking takes empty space and detonates it with story, spectacle and seduction.
—Bob Bonniol, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025
Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
But once in a rare while, the frame detonates into history.
—Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
During a trip to New York, an off-camera exchange detonates the conflict.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Gemma then detonates the device.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.
—EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Toussaint is killed in the penultimate episode after Shagan detonates a bomb on Saskia’s computer.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Welcome to the Engineered Dreamscape Placemaking takes empty space and detonates it with story, spectacle and seduction.
—Bob Bonniol, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonates
Verb
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In the video, an officer tries to use a key to enter the residence when the front of the building explodes in a fiery blast.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
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And this is where the computing space explodes.—
Glenn Zorpette,
IEEE Spectrum,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the incumbent mayor, Bass had to weather blows from her challengers while trying to sell voters on her fitness for another term, despite a disastrous 2025.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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During their stroll, Monroe stands over a subway grate as the whoosh of a passing train blows the skirt of her white halter dress up, a welcome respite from the sweltering heatwave that has gripped the city.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Heck, even co-creator Ed Boon pops up for a reasonably amusing cameo as a bartender.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
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In the mix of the chaos, Beth and Rip’s adopted son Carter (Finn Little) pops up for a few seconds.—
Brayden Garcia
May 5,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detonates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonates. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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