Meaning & use
detonate
To explode, or to cause something to explode, usually with a loud noise and sudden force.
See it in a sentence
Engineers safely detonated the old bridge to clear the way for a new one.
The bomb was set to detonate at midnight, but the squad disarmed it in time.
A note on using this word
Used for controlled or accidental explosions of bombs and explosive devices, rarely for ordinary breakage.
Words with a similar meaning
explodeblow up
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