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
Some mines are programmed to ignore the first ship that passes, detonating only on the fifth, just so that the mine-clearing team goes through safely and the tanker behind it takes the hit.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
Experts also reported little evidence that Iran is actively resuming its efforts to enrich uranium, let alone building a bomb-detonating mechanism.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
There are other photographs of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor taken in dark rooms with a flash detonating straight into his face.
—Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
Built with a high-strength steel casing, it is engineered to withstand impacts from dense materials before detonating.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
The statement said the attacker on Friday opened fire on security guards who tried to stop him at the main gate before detonating his explosive vest after reaching the mosque's inner gate.
—Munir Ahmed, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
The statement said the attacker on Friday opened fire on security guards who tried to stop him at the main gate before detonating his explosive vest after reaching the mosque's inner gate.
—CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
Two Swedes were convicted in a Danish court of terrorism and attempted murder for detonating two hand grenades near the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen in October 2024.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Douville later learned that the trees around him were literally cracking apart, detonating from the inside.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
Experts also reported little evidence that Iran is actively resuming its efforts to enrich uranium, let alone building a bomb-detonating mechanism.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
There are other photographs of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor taken in dark rooms with a flash detonating straight into his face.
—Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
Built with a high-strength steel casing, it is engineered to withstand impacts from dense materials before detonating.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
The statement said the attacker on Friday opened fire on security guards who tried to stop him at the main gate before detonating his explosive vest after reaching the mosque's inner gate.
—Munir Ahmed, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
The statement said the attacker on Friday opened fire on security guards who tried to stop him at the main gate before detonating his explosive vest after reaching the mosque's inner gate.
—CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
Two Swedes were convicted in a Danish court of terrorism and attempted murder for detonating two hand grenades near the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen in October 2024.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Douville later learned that the trees around him were literally cracking apart, detonating from the inside.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonating
Verb
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Meanwhile, Democratic states like Illinois, Washington and Massachusetts are exploding state spending and proposing tax hikes on top earners to fund an ever-growing array of programs and handouts.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
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And Elijah Wood provides a cheeky, bemused-insider vibe as the Danforths’ lawyer, who’s overseeing the technicalities and generally hiding behind a lectern when contestants start exploding.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Wind speeds were blowing at 12 mph in Grant, with gusts up to 29 mph, and Fairplay was seeing winds at 21 mph with gusts of up to 38 mph at the time of the closure, according to AccuWeather.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
17 Mar. 2026
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Utility infrastructure and data center warehouses are popping up across Georgia, but are there enough workers trained to support all that rapid growth?—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Her eye-popping numbers included a 38-point, 13-rebound performance in a 72-44 win over Hillcrest to win a Class 3A sectional title and a 30-point, 14-rebound showing in a 69-48 win over Lincoln-Way East to win the Sandburg Holiday Classic.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detonating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonating. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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