As verbs the difference between activate and detonate
is that activate is to put into action, to put to work while detonate is (label) to explode; to blow up specifically, to combust supersonically via shock compression.
activate
English
Verb
(activat)
To put into action, to put to work.
To turn on.
Synonyms
* actuate
Antonyms
* deactivate
detonate
English
Verb
(detonat)
(label) To explode; to blow up. Specifically, to combust supersonically via shock compression.
(label) To cause an explosion.
Synonyms
* blast
* discharge
* fulminate
Antonyms
* (with respect to speed of prorogation) deflagrate
Hypernyms
* combust
Related terms
* detonatable
* detonation
* detonator