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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Vann instantly explodes, then runs off into the distance, making it across the street before collapsing to the ground where a resident tried to help him with damp towels.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
There’s an intimacy to it in the verses, and then there’s a big dynamic jump, an octave jump between the verse and the chorus, which just explodes into this hopeful, optimistic thing.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Earlier this week, Becerra traded blows with Villaraigosa in campaign ads as previous polls showed the two struggling to break out of the splintered field of candidates.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2026
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Dornan eats a popsicle and blows a bubble from a piece of blue chewing gum, but that’s not the only playful piece.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When the city clears one encampment, another pops up, often nearby.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
His pocket awareness still needs work, though, and the occasional scattershot stretch pops up from time to time.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detonates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonates. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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