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Activate vs Detonate - What's the difference?

activate | detonate |

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