denuclearize

verb

de·​nu·​cle·​ar·​ize (ˈ)dē-ˈn(y)ü-klē-ə-ˌrīz How to pronounce denuclearize (audio)
nonstandard
-kyə-lə-ˌrīz How to pronounce denuclearize (audio)
denuclearized; denuclearizing

transitive verb

: to remove nuclear arms from : prohibit the use of nuclear arms in
denuclearization
(ˌ)dē-ˌn(y)ü-klē-ə-rə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce denuclearize (audio)
 nonstandard  -kyə-lə-rə-
noun

Examples of denuclearize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Trump made security guarantees to Kim, who reaffirmed his pledge to fully denuclearize the Korean peninsula. Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2024 Pyongyang depends heavily on Beijing for energy, food, and most of its meager trade with the outside world, and so successive U.S. administrations have tried to enlist the Chinese in their attempts to denuclearize North Korea. Oriana Skylar Mastro, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017 In 2009, under President Barack Obama, Washington tried diplomacy again to persuade Pyongyang to denuclearize. Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2023 The disappointing conclusion shook the public’s faith in summit diplomacy and undermined Seoul’s efforts to foster parallel processes: for denuclearizing North Korea, building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, and fostering inter-Korean economic cooperation. Chung-In Moon, Foreign Affairs, 14 Mar. 2019 See all Example Sentences for denuclearize 

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of denuclearize was in 1958

Dictionary Entries Near denuclearize

Cite this Entry

“Denuclearize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denuclearize. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on denuclearize

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!