nuking

present participle of nuke
as in destroying
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

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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 nuking 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 Korea’s unfunny dictator responded by nuking the studio’s tech apparatus, thus disclosing its financial secrets. Peter Bart, Deadline, 30 July 2026 The moon briefly had a small chance of taking a hit from the asteroid during its close approach in 2032 – prompting one team of scientists to propose simply nuking the space rock. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026 But there’s a cleverness to how AdHoc’s writing team has managed to give the player a sense of control without completely nuking the story. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025 Johnson raised concerns that nuking the filibuster could one day empower socialists, in an appearance on C-SPAN Thursday. Steven T. Dennis, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025 However, nuking the asteroid could potentially create problems. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nuking
Verb
  • In the early months of 2022, Russian forces occupied Irpin, destroying roughly 70% of the city.
    Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Tucker Desmond, who pleaded guilty to destroying evidence of other plotters' crimes, was sentenced to probation.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • At Cordova Villa Elementary, construction includes demolishing the existing administration building and a classroom building.
    Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • By 2022, the former mill was in disrepair, leading the city to purchase the property with the intention of demolishing it.
    Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Social media now dominates millions of lives, ruining too many.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Global warming is ruining the way of life for these Colorado ranchers demanding accountability.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • An eight-game lead with 25 games left is a virtual lock for Brewers manager Pat Murphy and his wrecking crew, as even optimistic Cubs fans understand.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The previous record-strong El Niño in modern times, in 1982-83, coincided with significant damage across the coastline, wrecking the piers in Santa Monica and Seal Beach.
    Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Andrew Haigh is a master of restraint, a talent that he’s often weaponized against his own creations to beautiful and shattering effect.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Last year’s record-shattering monsoon season is heightening the urgency to invest in climate resilience.
    Angelica Ang, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The country is also recovering from devastating back-to-back earthquakes in June that have so far killed over 6,000 people.
    Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Rescue operations and clean-up crews are still working in the wake of last week’s devastating debris avalanche and floods in Nepal and Tibet.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • This would prevent cyclists from smashing into car doors opened into bike lanes, McDermott said.
    Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Boteli sealed his hat-trick at the Johan Cruyff Arena after charging down the right flank, chopping inside and smashing into the far corner on his left foot.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Nuking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nuking. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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