as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
a pretty sizable piece of real estate would be nuked if an asteroid struck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nuke
However, nuking the asteroid could potentially create problems.
—
Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
In 2020, Republicans just nuked big chunks of their calendar and proclaimed their incumbent nearly by acclamation.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 26 Aug. 2025
Republicans in other red states like Missouri, Florida, Ohio and Indiana are also considering similar efforts to nuke Democratic seats before 2026.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
The only real solution is to nuke the whole thing and start over from scratch.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nuke
Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
In 2020, Republicans just nuked big chunks of their calendar and proclaimed their incumbent nearly by acclamation.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 26 Aug. 2025
Republicans in other red states like Missouri, Florida, Ohio and Indiana are also considering similar efforts to nuke Democratic seats before 2026.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
The only real solution is to nuke the whole thing and start over from scratch.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nuke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nuke
Verb
-
Gizmodo continues that the results of the CT scans astonished researchers because her right TMJ, near the ear, had been destroyed.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Half a million acres burned, destroying $300 million in timber and at least 150 homes and other structures.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The referendum sought funds to expand and renovate the school's North Campus building and demolish the school's South Campus building.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The city had permitted the project to partially demolish a preexisting, two-story, two-unit dwelling, which was planned to be enlarged into a four-story, seven-unit building, a DOB spokesman said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Top awards executive Lisa Taback had her luggage ruined as well.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
22 Feb. 2026
-
That’s when my Samsonite Paralux Carry-on ruined me for all other take-aboard luggage.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Through the implementation of strong border policies, fentanyl trafficking across the southern border has been slashed in half, leading to fewer overdose deaths devastating American families.—
Gabe Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The Short family is devastated by this loss, and asks for privacy at this time.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Haber-Bosch process, which enabled the mass production of both fertilizer and explosives, was invented in 1909, five years before war shattered Europe.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Gold has shattered record after record, briefly touching nearly $5,600 per ounce at the end of January before tumbling in one of its sharpest recent pullbacks.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
His digestive system was wrecked by recurring dysentery and colic, and the calomel prescribed by his doctors only made things worse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Listed at 6-3 and 315 pounds, the ultra-athletic Woods is the prototype for a game-wrecking defensive tackle.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Intriguingly, the lunar surface is littered with craters that record the chaotic early days of the solar system when planets and asteroids were smashing into one another.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The streamer has smashed streaming records for the Winter Olympics and contributed several million viewers to the Super Bowl audience.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nuke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nuke. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
