detonate

verb

det·​o·​nate ˈde-tᵊn-ˌāt How to pronounce detonate (audio)
ˈde-tə-ˌnāt
detonated; detonating

intransitive verb

: to explode with sudden violence

transitive verb

1
: to cause to detonate
detonate a bomb
compare deflagrate
2
: to set off in a burst of activity : spark
programs that detonated controversies
detonatable
ˈde-tᵊn-ˌā-tə-bəl How to pronounce detonate (audio)
ˈde-tə-ˌnā-
adjective
detonative
ˈde-tᵊn-ˌā-tiv How to pronounce detonate (audio)
ˈde-tə-ˌnā-
adjective

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 Amid growing concern about the problem, the U.S. government has increased its support to Mexican law enforcement and the military, donating bomb suits and detection equipment and training Mexican officials how to investigate crime scenes where explosives have detonated. Keegan Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 But even if Moscow never detonates a nuclear weapon in space, its mere presence in orbit would be cause for concern. Aaron Bateman, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2024 While no weapons detonated as a result of the crash, two of the four that fell to the ground were damaged, releasing radioactive plutonium. Tara Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024 Even if Russia does place a nuclear weapon in orbit, U.S. officials are in agreement in their assessment that the weapon would not be detonated. Julian E. Barnes, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024 The bomb had 20 sticks of dynamite and a booster but luckily failed to detonate, possibly due to faulty wiring. Journal Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2024 The device was detonated just before 3:45 a.m. Saturday outside Marshall's office in downtown Montgomery, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said. Louis Casiano, Fox News, 29 Feb. 2024 Steve Marshall, attorney general for Alabama, confirmed in a statement that no staff or personnel were injured after an explosive device was detonated outside his office in downtown Montgomery early Saturday. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 27 Feb. 2024 The group approached the platform by sea and attached explosives which were then detonated. Tim Lister and Victoria Butenko, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024

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.

Word History

Etymology

French détoner to explode, from Latin detonare to expend thunder, from de- + tonare to thunder — more at thunder entry 1

First Known Use

1729, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of detonate was in 1729

Dictionary Entries Near detonate

Cite this Entry

“Detonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detonate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

detonate

verb
det·​o·​nate ˈdet-ᵊn-ˌāt How to pronounce detonate (audio)
ˈdet-ə-ˌnāt
detonated; detonating
: to explode or cause to explode with sudden violence
detonation
ˌdet-ᵊn-ˈā-shən
ˌdet-ə-ˈnā-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on detonate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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