nuke

1 of 2

noun

ˈnük 

ˈnyük

1

: a nuclear weapon

2

: a nuclear-powered electric generating station

nuke

2 of 2

verb

nuked; nuking

transitive verb

1

: to attack or destroy with or as if with nuclear bombs

2

: microwave

Synonyms of nuke

Verb

• destroy
• demolish
• ruin
• devastate
• shatter
• wreck
• smash

Examples of nuke in a Sentence

Verb

a pretty sizable piece of real estate would be nuked if an asteroid struck

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

When Jenn tells her that Vicki just doesn’t like new girls, Carmella hits her with a nuke by saying that Vicki is new this year too. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

There are some serious limits to the AI-nukes analogy, nuclear policy expert Ankit Panda wrote in February in his newsletter, Nukesletter. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Verb

This nuked numerous moneyline parlays and survivor pool entries, with the Chargers being the most popular pick on Yahoo (more than 32 percent). — Doug Kezirian, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

To save the planet, a crew is sent on a mission to give the sun back its shine… by nuking the crap out of it. — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

by shortening and respelling from nuclear

Verb

derivative of nuke entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1958, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1962, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nuke

• fluke
• juke
• kook
• luc
• luke
• puke
• souk
• spook
• archduke
• rebuke
• caoutchouc