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
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Recent Examples of nuke
South Koreans, who would bear the brunt of U.S. retaliation, were skittish about a military option even when Kim was threatening to nuke them over the deployment of the missile defense system known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD.
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Daniel R. Russel, Foreign Affairs, 12 June 2018
The big picture: Manchin served as a serious check on President Biden's congressional plans — blocking efforts to nuke the filibuster and forcing a spending limit on the Build Back Better plan.
—Justin Green, Axios, 27 Oct. 2024
Then radiation nuked anything the chemo might have missed.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024
She’s had to fend off rumors that meteorologists should just use giant fans to blow the hurricane away or try nuking it.
—Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nuke 
Daniel R. Russel, Foreign Affairs, 12 June 2018
The big picture: Manchin served as a serious check on President Biden's congressional plans — blocking efforts to nuke the filibuster and forcing a spending limit on the Build Back Better plan.
—Justin Green, Axios, 27 Oct. 2024
Then radiation nuked anything the chemo might have missed.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024
She’s had to fend off rumors that meteorologists should just use giant fans to blow the hurricane away or try nuking it.
—Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nuke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nuke
Verb
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Some 12,000 structures — buildings and cars — have been destroyed so far, and with them many tons of property of all levels of sentimental meaning.Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Jan. 2025
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Related article Tracking the damage and devastation from the Los Angeles wildfires in maps As many as 12,000 homes, businesses and other structures may have been destroyed in the wildfires raging in Los Angeles County, rendering entire communities ashen piles of rubble.Dakin Andone, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The plan is a major change for Jackson Memorial Hospital, which would demolish two office buildings across from a Metrorail station in 2027 to make way for affordable and workforce housing in two towers filled with shops, a hotel and more than 800 apartments.Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2025
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At least one of the buildings was soon to be demolished altogether, its red-brick walls dumped into its 1921 foundation.Jon Marcus, NPR, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Well, Neptune and his Wildcats might just be ruining the convenient narrative.CJ Moore, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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What Happened in Hawaii? In August 2023, the Hawaiian town of Lahaina, on the northwest coast of the island of Maui, was devastated by a raging wildfire which killed 102 people and displaced thousands.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
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Our friends and our neighbors have lost homes, and entire communities have been devastated, and there’s still more work to do.Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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An ugly ownership dispute spilled into public view this week, throwing the San Diego Padres into turmoil, shattering the quiet that defined their winter and raising questions about how the resulting uncertainty will affect the operation of the team.Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
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Today, that internationalist consensus has shattered.Charles A. Kupchan, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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For so long, the Steelers needed Watt to put on his cape and wreck a game to steal a win against a top-tier opponent.Mike DeFabo, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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Glasses, eyewear repair kits and gold cleaning equipment were wrecked.Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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That was a record handle, smashing the previous year’s Super Bowl wagering in the state by $32 million.Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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That smashed the government’s forecast of 6.5% growth for the year, as well as last year’s growth figure of 5.05%. Exports, driven by electronics, smartphones, and garments, grew 14.3% in 2024 to reach $405.5 billion, and that helped drive Vietnam’s growth.Alena Botros, Fortune Asia, 6 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Nuke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nuke. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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