nuke
nuke — noun
1. an atomic or hydrogen bomb — a weapon that uses nuclear reactions to create a ma
an atomic or hydrogen bomb — a weapon that uses nuclear reactions to create a massive explosion, far more powerful than conventional bombs.
During the Cold War, both superpowers built enough nukes to destroy the world many times.
informal term for nuclear weapon in historical/political context
The treaty required both countries to reduce the number of active nukes in their arsenals.
countable noun: active nukes in arsenals
Noor watched a documentary about the first nuke ever tested in New Mexico.
A single nuke can level an entire city and leave the land unsafe for decades.
The general argued that having more nukes did not make any nation safer.
- atomic bomb
more formal and technically specific; refers specifically to fission weapons
- hydrogen bomb
refers to the more powerful thermonuclear fusion weapons
- warhead
the explosive part of a missile; can be nuclear or conventional
- conventional weapon
a weapon that uses chemical explosives rather than nuclear reactions
用法筆記
Common in news reporting and political discussion, but considered informal or journalistic shorthand. In formal military writing, the full term 'nuclear weapon' is preferred.
常見錯誤
nuke — verb
1. to drop or launch a nuclear bomb on a specific location, such as a city, militar
to drop or launch a nuclear bomb on a specific location, such as a city, military base, or enemy formation.
The war games scenario assumed the enemy would nuke the capital within the first hour.
passive hypothetical: would nuke + location
Hannah read a novel where a rogue commander threatened to nuke the rebel camp.
The general refused to nuke civilian areas even when the war was going badly.
If a country is nuked, the survivors would face radiation sickness for years.
用法筆記
Almost always used in hypothetical, historical, or fictional contexts. Rarely used in actual military orders, where precise technical language ('deploy a nuclear strike on') is standard.
常見錯誤
2. to ruin, eliminate, or delete something fully and forcefully, as if it had been
to ruin, eliminate, or delete something fully and forcefully, as if it had been hit by a nuclear explosion — often used in business, computing, or everyday situations.
The board voted to nuke the entire project after the budget review.
business metaphor: nuke a project
Hyun accidentally nuked his hard drive when he tried to install the wrong software.
The new streaming service nuked the competition by offering a much lower price.
The lawyer nuked the opposing argument with a single piece of evidence.
After the virus hit, the IT team nuked the whole system and rebuilt from scratch.
- annihilate
more formal and dramatic; suggests total and violent destruction
- obliterate
suggests wiping out all trace of something; similar intensity
- scrap
less dramatic; specifically about abandoning a plan or project
- delete
computing-specific and less forceful; simply removes data
用法筆記
A strong, emphatic verb. In business and computing contexts it implies a decision of last resort — the thing being nuked is not just changed but completely scrapped or rebuilt from zero.
常見錯誤
3. to warm up a dish or drink using a microwave, used in casual speech as a playful
to warm up a dish or drink using a microwave, used in casual speech as a playful way to say 'microwave.'
Élise nuked her leftover pizza for ninety seconds and ate it at her desk.
collocation: nuked leftovers + time duration
Paul is too impatient to cook pasta properly, so he just nukes a ready-made meal.
The instructions say to nuke the soup for two minutes and stir before serving.
The dorm kitchen has a single microwave where students nuke instant noodles at all hours.
用法筆記
Purely informal or humorous. In a recipe or a how-to guide, 'microwave' is the correct neutral term. 'Nuke' signals a relaxed, slangy tone.
常見錯誤
4. to attack a target with an intense barrage of conventional bombs or sustained fi
to attack a target with an intense barrage of conventional bombs or sustained firepower, especially in military or video-game contexts.
The air force nuked the enemy bunkers with wave after wave of bombers.
military context: nuked + conventional bombing
In the game, players call in an airstrike to nuke an area full of enemies.
The artillery unit nuked the ridge until every gun position fell silent.
Lakan watched a war movie where jets nuked the bridge with precision bombs.
- pound
suggests sustained, repetitive attacks; less dramatic
- carpet-bomb
more specific — dropping many bombs over a wide area
- shell
specifically refers to artillery or mortar attacks
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 specifies nuclear weapons; sense 4 refers to conventional but overwhelming firepower. This sense is more common in slang military talk and video games than in official reporting.