Definition of detonationnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detonation Chinese military scientists have already published models of such a nuclear detonation. — Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026 Because of tungsten’s high density and melting point, the pellets retain their shape after detonation. — Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Gripped by a summer of weather extremes, Romania recently shut down its sole working nuclear reactor cooled by the Danube for the first time, with Bucharest even deploying naval forces to carry out underwater detonations to improve water flow. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 If The Odyssey lit the fuse, Spider-Man is the looming detonation. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for detonation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonation
Noun
  • South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the explosion occurred during an unspecified operation near the military demarcation line in the western section of the border buffer zone, commonly known as the DMZ.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Some residents in Riyadh heard an explosion, and later some saw a plume of smoke near the airport.
    — Tucker Reals, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • If the caldera had collapsed after the eruption, the landslide deposits should lie on top of the pyroclastic layers.
    — Yook Ji Hun, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Charred to a crisp during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in AD 79, hundreds of papyrus scrolls lie tucked away unread in Italy’s National Library of Naples.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detonation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonation. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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