nuclearize

[ noo-klee-uh-rahyz, nyoo- or, by metathesis, -kyuh-luh- ]
/ ˈnu kli əˌraɪz, ˈnyu- or, by metathesis, -kyə lə- /

verb (used with object), nu·cle·ar·ized, nu·cle·ar·iz·ing.

to equip with nuclear weapons; give nuclear capability to: a fear that armed forces on both sides would become nuclearized.
Also especially British, nu·cle·ar·ise.

Origin of nuclearize

First recorded in 1955–60; nuclear + -ize

pronunciation note for nuclearize

See nuclear.

OTHER WORDS FROM nuclearize

nu·cle·ar·i·za·tion, noun

Words nearby nuclearize

nuclear waste, nuclear weapon, nuclear winter, nuclear-free zone, nuclearism, nuclearize, nuclease, nucleate, nucleated, nucleating agent, nucleation