detonate
verb
det·o·nate
ˈde-tᵊn-ˌāt 
ˈde-tə-ˌnāt
detonated; detonating
: to explode with sudden violence
1
: to cause to detonate
detonate a bomb
compare deflagrate
2
: to set off in a burst of activity : spark
programs that detonated controversies
Examples of detonate in a Sentence
The first atomic bomb was detonated in 1945.
the bomb detonated with a thunder that could be heard for blocks in all directions
Recent Examples on the Web
On this day in 1953: The Soviet Union detonated its first hydrogen bomb, in Kazakhstan.
—
The Arizona Republic, 12 Aug. 2024
The network said that the suspects also planned to detonate explosives inside the venue where Swift was set to perform.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2024
The two pipe bombs didn’t detonate but have puzzled investigators and observers since.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Aug. 2024
Wray said the two devices in the car had receivers that could allow them to be detonated remotely, and the object with an antenna found on the roof with Crooks was a transmitter.
—Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 27 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for detonate 
The Arizona Republic, 12 Aug. 2024
The network said that the suspects also planned to detonate explosives inside the venue where Swift was set to perform.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2024
The two pipe bombs didn’t detonate but have puzzled investigators and observers since.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Aug. 2024
Wray said the two devices in the car had receivers that could allow them to be detonated remotely, and the object with an antenna found on the roof with Crooks was a transmitter.
—Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 27 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for detonate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'detonate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near detonate
Cite this Entry
“Detonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detonate. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detonate
verb
det·o·nate
ˈdet-ᵊn-ˌāt
ˈdet-ə-ˌnāt
detonated; detonating
: to explode or cause to explode with sudden violence
detonation
noun
ˌdet-ᵊn-ˈā-shən
ˌdet-ə-ˈnā-
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