as in explosion
the act or an instance of exploding
there was a series of detonations around the base of the condemned building, causing it to come crashing down in a matter of minutes
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Recent Examples of detonation
Those detonations had the explosive equivalent of one Hiroshima-sized atomic bomb every day for 20 years, according to a 2025 report from the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER).
—
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
The detonation is contained by the rock, reducing the risk of atmospheric fallout.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Israel did not confirm its involvement in the immediate aftermath of the detonations, which came after months of Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel, which had ratcheted up in the wake of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Southern Israel.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
Controlled detonations were expected to continue throughout the day.
—Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detonation
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
The detonation is contained by the rock, reducing the risk of atmospheric fallout.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Israel did not confirm its involvement in the immediate aftermath of the detonations, which came after months of Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel, which had ratcheted up in the wake of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Southern Israel.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
Controlled detonations were expected to continue throughout the day.
—Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detonation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonation
Noun
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Local media also reported that several explosions were heard before the fire began.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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Jonathan Taylor’s offensive explosion helped push the Indianapolis Colts past the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in the first NFL regular-season game in Berlin, 31-25, in overtime.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Whereas Balle’s first two books are inward and meditative, her third witnesses an eruption of politics.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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In 2022, debris from an underwater volcanic eruption severed the island's only subsea communication cable, cutting the island off from the rest of the world.—
Magdalena Petrova,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detonation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonation. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
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