nuke

verb

Definition of nukenext
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

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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 And more recently, Cornyn was among many Republicans reluctant to nuke the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold to pass the Save America Act to impose nationwide voter ID laws. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 27 May 2026 One of them nukes a ton of Gmail functionality, and neither is explained very well. — ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026 Our job is to be America First, which means protecting American interests and making sure Iran can’t nuke us. — Sudiksha Kochi, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2026 Now someone posts on social media that COVID-19, tariffs, or the war with Iran is going to nuke toilet paper stock, and strangers across the country start loading up their carts. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nuke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nuke
  1. destroy
  2. demolish
  3. ruin
  4. devastate
  5. shatter
  6. wreck
  7. smash
Verb
  • Cal Fire continues to battle the Gann Fire, which has burned more than 10,000 acres in Calaveras County and destroyed over a dozen structures.
    — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • At the same time, Bernadette makes her potion and turns into a 60-foot monster, destroying Pasadena.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • The only option to build the facility was to demolish the Trojans’ longtime baseball field and displace the program for multiple seasons.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • What else might be demolished in Crown Center for the ballpark district remains unclear.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of demolish
Verb
  • Campione said her campaign was focused on protecting rural lands from being annexed into cities for rural subdivisions and stopping activities that could ruin water quality or override property rights.
    — James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But the mellow vibes are ruined when a goofy case of mistaken identity results in Frankie coming home with a briefcase containing several vials of a glowing orange goo.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • The floods also devastated livestock, with large numbers of cattle lost, dealing a blow to rural communities and raising concerns about disease outbreaks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The area where the quake struck, Colombia's coffee region, was devastated by an earthquake in 1999 that killed more than 1,200 people.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastate
Verb
  • Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Ace protected the three deputies from Bowers but was shot in his left front leg, shattering the bone and tearing an artery that caused massive blood loss.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The state of the job market has shattered the confidence of American workers.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of shatter
Verb
  • Resilience wrecked, but Blue Ghost aced its touchdown, becoming the first private spacecraft to do so.
    — Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • When buyers can't reliably tell high-quality products from low-quality ones, the low-quality products can actually drive the good ones out and wreck a whole market.
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of wreck
Verb
  • Nick Loftin then doubled in the third before Caglianone hit his 21st homer of the season to right, smashing a hanging slider for a 410-foot shot that induced grumbles from the stands.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Public Defender's Office said Govindbhai, without double-checking the plate numbers, walked to the driver's side door and struck the window with his baton four times, smashing the glass.
    — Jose Fabian, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of smash

Browse Nearby Words

nuisances
nuke
nuked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nuke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nuke. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of nuke for Spanish Speakers

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