Definition of detonationnext
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

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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 Perhaps, Galbreath said, the Space Force should consider improved radiation shielding for its satellites in low-Earth orbit to protect them against a potential nuclear detonation. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026 This first atomic detonation not only transformed the New Mexico desert but also ushered in the nuclear age, altering WWII and creating an enduring moral burden. Rebecca Coffey, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 The fireworks find comes after a fire in a converted garage May 9 led to the detonation of pyrotechnics that reportedly blew a man’s body apart on the 2400 block of Ninth Avenue in the Jefferson Park area. City News Service, Daily News, 28 May 2026 The measure repeals provisions in Finland’s 1987 Nuclear Energy Act that banned the import, production, possession and detonation of nuclear explosives. Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for detonation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detonation
Noun
  • Tuesday night's explosion from Contreras had actually been 24 hours in the making.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • Authorities in the wealthy city-state of Monaco have launched a manhunt that’s stretched across the border into France after several people were wounded in an explosion caused by a bomb that was planted in a residential building.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • The intense burst of X-rays released during the eruption reached Earth in just over 8 minutes, triggering strong (R3) radio blackouts across the daylight side of Earth.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 1 July 2026
  • Emissions from volcanic eruptions can also cause some chemical chaos in this system.
    Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detonation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detonation. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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