nuke
9 synonyms for nuke, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A nuclear weapon.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A nuclear weapon.
“The film imagined a world where a rogue state got hold of a nuke.”
How to use nuke
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
nuke it in the microwave
drop a nuke
nuke the competition
Very informal — fine in conversation, but "nuclear weapon" or "microwave" are the neutral choices for formal writing.
Etymology
A shortening of "nuclear weapon"; the verb developed later from the noun.
Full origin of nuke →Frequently asked questions
What does “nuke” mean?
The word “nuke” means a nuclear weapon. In plain terms, slang for a nuclear bomb, and casually, for blowing something up or zapping food in the microwave.
How do you pronounce “nuke”?
“Nuke” is pronounced nyook (/n(j)uk/ in IPA).
How do you use “nuke” in a sentence?
Here is “nuke” used in a sentence: “The film imagined a world where a rogue state got hold of a nuke.”
What part of speech is “nuke”?
Depending on how it is used, “nuke” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “nuke” a common word?
“Nuke” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “nuke” have?
“Nuke” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a nuclear weapon.
