DETONATES Synonyms: 21 Similar and Opposite Words

detonates

verb

present tense third-person singular of detonate

as in explodes

to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure the bomb detonated with a thunder that could be heard for blocks in all directions

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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 detonates If the ammunition detonates after penetration, the explosion is directed away from the crew compartment, significantly improving the crew’s chances of survival. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026 After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual. — Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026 Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive. — Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026 But once in a rare while, the frame detonates into history. — Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026 During a trip to New York, an off-camera exchange detonates the conflict. — Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026 Gemma then detonates the device. — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026 Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself. — EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025 Toussaint is killed in the penultimate episode after Shagan detonates a bomb on Saskia’s computer. — Nicole Briese, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonates

Verb

The accusation rumbles, then explodes locally, drawing in authorities and prompting an investigation.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Most is in the form of subatomic particles called neutrinos, which carry little energy individually but are generated in vast numbers when a star explodes.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of explodes

Verb

The Las Vegas spectacle, which opened to the public in August 2025, already blows audiences around with tornado-force wind, shakes them with haptic seats, sends giant winged monkeys flying overhead and drops hundreds of foam apples from the ceiling.

— Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
By the time Frey and Felder nearly came to blows backstage in the summer of 1980, however, those threads were too frayed to hold.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of blows

Verb

Between driving, walking while listening to podcasts, and firing off every random question that pops into my head, these might actually stick around.

— Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Toward the southern end of the park, the LeFrak Center offers ice skating in winter and roller skating in summer, and Smorgasburg, a Sunday local food fair, pops up from April to October.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of pops

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detonates

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“Detonates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonates. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of detonates

verb

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