nuke
C1Informal, slang
Definition
Meaning
A nuclear weapon or nuclear-powered device.
To attack with nuclear weapons; to destroy or eliminate completely (often hyperbolic). In computing, to erase data or terminate a process forcefully; in cooking, to heat something in a microwave.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Nuke" carries a high degree of informal register, making it inappropriate for formal contexts about nuclear policy. It often conveys hyperbolic or humorous destruction (e.g., 'nuke the data'). Its microwave sense is universally informal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is used in both varieties. The microwave sense may be slightly more prevalent in AmE, but is common in BrE too. The informal register is consistent across both.
Connotations
Primarily informal, often with hyperbolic or darkly humorous overtones when referring to destruction. The microwave sense is purely casual.
Frequency
Reasonably common in informal speech and writing in both regions. More frequent in contexts of gaming, computing, and casual conversation than in formal discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] Nuke + Direct Object (e.g., nuke the city).[Verb] Nuke + Direct Object + Prepositional Phrase (e.g., nuke food in the microwave).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Go] nuclear”
- “Nuke it from orbit (it's the only way to be sure).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Highly informal. 'We need to nuke that old marketing plan and start over.' (meaning: completely discard)
Academic
Avoided in formal writing. May appear in political science or history as quoted informal speech.
Everyday
Common. 'Just nuke the pizza for two minutes.' / 'My computer froze, so I had to nuke the program.'
Technical
In computing: to force-terminate a process or wipe a drive. In military slang: to attack with nuclear weapons.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Don't boil the milk, just nuke it for 30 seconds.
- The hacker threatened to nuke the entire server.
American English
- I'll nuke some popcorn for the movie.
- The general was prepared to nuke the enemy silos.
adverb
British English
- It's not commonly used as an adverb.
American English
- It's not commonly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The game features a nuke option for desperate players.
- It was a nuke-level scandal for the government.
American English
- They're worried about a nuke attack.
- He dropped a nuke comment in the meeting and left.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I warmed my coffee in the microwave.
- The country has very powerful bombs.
- The president would not rule out using nuclear weapons.
- If the system crashes, you may have to wipe the hard drive.
- The treaty aimed to reduce the number of deployed nuclear warheads.
- The general argued that a tactical nuke might be necessary.
- Just nuke those leftovers for a quick lunch.
- The corruption scandal effectively nuked his chances of re-election.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"Nuke" rhymes with "uke" (as in ukulele). Imagine a tiny, ukulele-shaped bomb that causes massive destruction.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLETE DESTRUCTION IS A NUCLEAR ATTACK (e.g., 'The scandal nuked his career.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "nuchevo" (ничего). "Nuke" is unrelated and informal.
- Direct translation as "ядерка" is possible but conveys the slang tone.
- The hyperbolic verb sense ('to nuke' = utterly destroy) lacks a direct, common Russian equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'nuke' in formal academic or policy writing.
- Confusing 'nuke' (informal noun/verb) with 'nuclear' (formal adjective).
- Overusing the hyperbolic sense, making statements sound unserious.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'nuke' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'nuke' is strictly informal slang. Use 'nuclear weapon' or 'thermonuclear device' in formal contexts.
Yes. As a verb, it commonly means to cook in a microwave or to destroy/erase something completely (e.g., a computer file).
'Nuclear' is the standard, formal adjective. 'Nuke' is the informal, slang noun and verb derived from it.
It can be seen as trivialising or insensitive due to its informal, sometimes flippant tone. Caution is advised in serious discussions.