as in explosion
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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 detonation
At the climactic sally, six aerial bombs were dropped; none scored a direct hit, but their detonations damaged the hull so severely that the ship sank in 21 minutes.
—
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strike was ordered in response to the detonation of a Hamas explosive device earlier on Saturday that wounded Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
But the deadly explosive devices were discovered before detonation and made safe.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
At the end of Carol and Zosia’s talk, Carol’s detonation of the quite-real grenade sends Pluribus in a whole new direction, where violence is possible and the endless accommodations offered to Carol might include a rocket launcher or an atom bomb.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detonation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonation
Noun
-
My research explores how well-meaning, but draconian, efforts to correct the abusive opioid prescription promotion practices of drug companies were followed by a nationwide explosion of overdoses from illicit opioids, again in the absence of equivalent efforts to make opioid treatment available.—
-
The company weathered a near-disastrous explosion at its rocket ranch and continued to expand its ambitions.—
Noun
-
Following the dramatic discovery, Walker discovers that the long-ago murder is somehow linked to the conspiracy behind the arms dealer and the mysterious volcanic eruption at Crater Lake.—
-
The activity periodically forms a dome over the main vent, which eventually collapses, causing an eruption.—
Cite this Entry
“Detonation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonation. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
