detonate
verb (used without object)
to explode with suddenness and violence.
detonated
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past participleof detonate.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof detonate.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
detonateverb (used without object)to explode with suddenness and violence.
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.
When munitions are detonated underwater, the blast can spread contaminants through the surrounding environment.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
The defense ministry said no military weapons had been detonated.
From Barron's ● Sep. 5, 2026
The American strike came days after President Trump said the U.S. had removed or detonated all mines in the waterway and warned that any vessel laying new ones would be destroyed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 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
Why there was a garden hose on the roof, Frank wasn’t sure, but every time the giants sent up a cannonball, Percy summoned a high-powered blast of water and detonated the sphere in midair.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
