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
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Recent Examples of detonating
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
Its material originated during October 1977 sessions at Memphis’ Ardent Studios, where the original lineup — the late Lux Interior, Poison Ivy, Bryan Gregory and Nick Knox — worked with Chilton shortly before detonating the underground rock landscape.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 27 May 2026
While the $25,000 charge is a monthly fee for the satellite connection provided to a satellite terminal, the terminals are being used with drones that only make one-way trips before hitting targets and detonating on impact.
—ArsTechnica, 26 May 2026
One culminated last year with abject disaster, with Karl Lysinger detonating his Oak Park house and dying in the process, months after the home was auctioned.
—Graham Womack
may 18, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
Cody Brundage's 44-second R2 knockout over Andre Petroski was the fastest of the night, and Khaos Williams returned to form by detonating a right hand on Nikolay Veretennikov for a vintage first-round TKO.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Two Massachusetts men have pleaded guilty to breaking into Harvard Medical School and detonating fireworks last Halloween night, a crime that caught the eye of FBI Director Kash Patel.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
And some advanced mines have counters that will let a certain number of ships pass before detonating.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
The 40-year-old from Alabama responded emphatically, detonating the fabled right hand several times and eventually pummeling Chisora to the ground.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Bryan West, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Its material originated during October 1977 sessions at Memphis’ Ardent Studios, where the original lineup — the late Lux Interior, Poison Ivy, Bryan Gregory and Nick Knox — worked with Chilton shortly before detonating the underground rock landscape.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 27 May 2026
While the $25,000 charge is a monthly fee for the satellite connection provided to a satellite terminal, the terminals are being used with drones that only make one-way trips before hitting targets and detonating on impact.
—ArsTechnica, 26 May 2026
One culminated last year with abject disaster, with Karl Lysinger detonating his Oak Park house and dying in the process, months after the home was auctioned.
—Graham Womack
may 18, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
Cody Brundage's 44-second R2 knockout over Andre Petroski was the fastest of the night, and Khaos Williams returned to form by detonating a right hand on Nikolay Veretennikov for a vintage first-round TKO.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Two Massachusetts men have pleaded guilty to breaking into Harvard Medical School and detonating fireworks last Halloween night, a crime that caught the eye of FBI Director Kash Patel.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
And some advanced mines have counters that will let a certain number of ships pass before detonating.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
The 40-year-old from Alabama responded emphatically, detonating the fabled right hand several times and eventually pummeling Chisora to the ground.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonating
Verb
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Today, the worldwide launch rate has risen to roughly 125 launches annually, with the number exploding in 2018.—
David Szondy
May 31,
New Atlas,
31 May 2026
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In 2025, a capacity crowd was exploding for her, the biggest star in the sport, triumphing on one of its biggest stages once again.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Not because the Dodgers’ reliever gave up three runs in the eighth inning to the Philadelphia Phillies, blowing a save opportunity and getting tagged with his first loss of the season.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
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The plants store electricity generated by large solar and wind farms to release back on the power grid at night when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The maximum memory capacity is now an eye-popping 256GB of DDR5, via four SO-DIMM RAM slots.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
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King Arthur manuscript goes on sale A rare medieval manuscript featuring early tales of King Arthur and Merlin, which has been in private hands for about 700 years, is heading to auction with an eye-popping price tag.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detonating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonating. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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