Synonyms of detonating

detonating

verb

present participle of detonate

as in exploding

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

• exploding
• blowing
• popping
• bursting
• firing
• shattering
• crumping
• going off
• smashing
• blowing up
• fragmenting
• splintering
• discharging
• shooting
• mushrooming
• burgeoning
• ballooning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• imploding
• collapsing
• fizzling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of detonating

According to a report in German newspaper Bild, investigators believe only a technical malfunction may have prevented the device attached to the drone from detonating. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026

Moments later the drone dives toward the minibus and explodes near its front, detonating close to where the man is standing. — Elaine Mallon, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Brown says the firm also explored investing in an Israeli start-up developing underground munitions capable of tunneling beneath targets before detonating, but that deal ultimately fell through. — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 22 July 2026

The video shows these drones flying into the Russian positions and detonating their payloads during the assault. — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

To put it simply—detonating nuclear weapons in space can be as disastrous as detonating them on Earth. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 July 2026

Many older interceptor missiles use blast-fragmentation warheads, detonating near the incoming missile and destroying it with high-speed metal fragments. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026

With this in mind, NATO ran an exercise in June imagining drones detonating as a ship enters the port. — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026

Investigators found that Aliji intended to drive a Volkswagen Beetle equipped with fake police sirens and flashing blue lights toward crowds outside the venue before detonating explosives concealed inside a Red Bull can. — Bryan West, USA Today, 28 May 2026