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Definitions

detonate

[det-n-ayt] / ˈdɛt nˌeɪt /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Their explosive payloads did not detonate, and it’s entirely possible they were never meant to.

From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026

Alternatively, specially-equipped vessels, drones or aircraft mimic the magnetic fields, pressure or noise created by a passing ship to detonate the mines before they can do any harm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

An attempt to detonate or diffuse the bomb failed, so Officer Brian Murray and three others were lowered into the crater.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

The leaked Internal Affairs report said there was a mistaken “universal belief” within the bomb squad that the containment vessel could safely detonate up to 40 pounds of explosive materials.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2026

There was a hard block of silence, and then I said quietly, as though my words might detonate the room, “Do you remember what made you fall?”

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles

It detonates just as they get close, apparently shocking even Berezovska with its force.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

When a nuclear weapon detonates or a serious reactor accident occurs, an immense burst of energy is released in less than a millionth of a second.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 3, 2026

When roughly a mile from its target, it uses artificial intelligence to lock onto the target and detonates nearby, according to its users.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

No one detonates a room with honesty and irritation quite like Bill Burr, and his latest, “Drop Dead Years,” shows the comedian in his fully evolved form.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2025

Halftime Right after you glance at April waving from the bleachers, your stomach detonates: KABOOM! and you lose it right there behind the bench in Pernell’s gym bag.

From "Booked" by Kwame Alexander

Another collided with a different plane, and a third detonated near the airport perimeter, authorities say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

When munitions are detonated underwater, the blast can spread contaminants through the surrounding environment.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026

US President Donald Trump previously said on Truth Social that "all mines have been removed and/or detonated from within the International Waters of the Strait of Hormuz", citing the US Navy.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

Instead, the round detonated prematurely at 453 meters, or about 1,486 feet, in the air, around 3,300 feet from its firing location, according to the report.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 16, 2026

Yes, the confession you spent weeks practicing on Freddie Mercury and working up the courage to make just detonated on the tip of your tongue.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

"It depends on the area where the wreck and munitions lie. Currents and seabed morphology play a major role. In some cases, detonating them can do more harm than good," she explains.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026

After safely detonating the device at another location, the police informed Ewan that the device was a practice bomb used to send flare signals 20,000 ft in the air.

From BBC ● May 28, 2026

The drone, designed by Perennial Autonomy, a company backed by former Google CEO and billionaire Eric Schmidt using Ukrainian engineers, destroys other drones by detonating close by and has proven popular in Ukraine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

If your goal is to save money on taxes, detonating the tax torpedo is not ideal.

From MarketWatch ● May 8, 2026

As I was preparing for this book, I wrote an article for The Daily Telegraph, hoping to elicit a few punctuation horror stories, and it was like detonating a dam.

From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author


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