as in explosions
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 detonations
Slow and steady The most successful transformations look less like detonations and more like construction projects—unglamorous, incremental, and mapped out well in advance.
—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Meanwhile, sailors aboard USS Barb reported hearing distant explosions and depth-charge detonations during the same period, believing they may have been associated with an attack on Herring.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
2 June 2026
Only when more members and influential insiders demand better of one another as a matter of course, before things go sideways, will there be fewer political self-detonations and shattered lives.
—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Given the prospect of nuclear war, humanity’s arsenal could indeed wipe out every living human on Earth from detonations and the ensuing fallout.
—
Big Think,
4 Mar. 2026
Remote detonations are also used to trigger slides intentionally and remove risky buildup before skiers are allowed on the slopes, said Chris Lundy, an avalanche specialist with the National Avalanche Center.
—
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
His public address envisioned a future filled with waves of nuclear arms buildups and test detonations.
—
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Ukrainian officials said powerful explosions and secondary detonations were recorded at the site, while the extent of damage was still being assessed.
—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Others were instant detonations.
—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Meanwhile, sailors aboard USS Barb reported hearing distant explosions and depth-charge detonations during the same period, believing they may have been associated with an attack on Herring.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
2 June 2026
Only when more members and influential insiders demand better of one another as a matter of course, before things go sideways, will there be fewer political self-detonations and shattered lives.
—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Given the prospect of nuclear war, humanity’s arsenal could indeed wipe out every living human on Earth from detonations and the ensuing fallout.
—
Big Think,
4 Mar. 2026
Remote detonations are also used to trigger slides intentionally and remove risky buildup before skiers are allowed on the slopes, said Chris Lundy, an avalanche specialist with the National Avalanche Center.
—
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
His public address envisioned a future filled with waves of nuclear arms buildups and test detonations.
—
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Ukrainian officials said powerful explosions and secondary detonations were recorded at the site, while the extent of damage was still being assessed.
—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Others were instant detonations.
—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonations
Noun
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The satellite's primary objective, though, is to observe gamma-ray bursts – events triggered by the catastrophic deaths of massive stars and considered to be the most powerful types of explosions in the universe.
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The observatory has spent over two decades as a sort of orbital sentinel that scans the cosmos for gamma-ray bursts, ready to quickly point itself at the short-lived — but insanely powerful — space explosions at a moment's notice.
Noun
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The hotel staff can help direct you to info about eruptions, closures, and options for outdoor experiences.
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During The Great Dying, massive volcanic eruptions triggered catastrophic climate changes that altered the planet’s entire biosphere.
Cite this Entry
“Detonations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonations. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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