grenade

noun

gre·​nade grə-ˈnād 

: a small missile that contains an explosive or a chemical agent (such as tear gas, a flame producer, or a smoke producer) and that is thrown by hand or projected (as by a rifle or special launcher)

Examples of grenade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Goldberg-Polin, then 23, threw out the grenades one by one, before one detonated in his hand, blowing his arm off from the elbow down. —Christian Edwards, CNN, 26 Feb. 2025

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News late last month that a TdA ringleader was busted in an immigration raid in the Bronx and was trying to buy grenades. —Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2025

In good times and bad times, the president enjoys taking a grenade out on a Saturday afternoon, throwing it on the floor and watching everybody react. —ABC News, 16 Feb. 2025

Type 97 grenades were typically filled with the explosive chemical compound TNT and weighed about a pound. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, literally, pomegranate, from Late Latin granata, from Latin, feminine of granatus seedy, from granum grain — more at corn

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing grenade

• concussion grenade
• flash-bang grenade
• flash grenade
• fragmentation grenade
• smoke grenade
• stun grenade

Rhymes for grenade

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

grenade

noun

gre·​nade grə-ˈnād 

: a small bomb that is thrown by hand or launched (as by a rifle)

Etymology

from early French grenade, granade "pomegranate, grenade," from Latin granata "pomegranate," derived from Latin granatus "seedy," from granum "grain, seed" — related to garnet, grain, pomegranate see Word History at garnet