massive retaliation

Save This Word!

noun

a strategy of military counterattack that involves the use of nuclear weapons.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of massive retaliation

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55

Words nearby massive retaliation

Massinger, Massinisa, Massinissa, massive, massive resistance, massive retaliation, mass leave, massless, mass man, mass-market, mass marketing

How to use massive retaliation in a sentence

The decision not to run the cartoons is motivated by nothing more than fear: either fear of offending or fear of retaliation.
Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too|John Avlon|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the F-35 has been plagued with massive delays and cost overruns—mostly due to design defects and software issues.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019|Dave Majumdar|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This “Sixth Migration” of massive human migration to Texas is the larger story of the book, and it is a significant story.
Will Texas Stay Texan?|David Fontana|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is very popular in Southeast Asia and has had massive growth.
The Presumed Crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Is Nothing Like MH370|Lennox Samuels|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“I am being proven right about massive vaccinations” he tweeted in September.
2014: Revenge of the Creationists|Karl W. Giberson|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Conny stepped smilingly forward, and proceeded to affix the band around the vicar's massive throat.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
The place wore an entirely peaceful air, strong and massive though it appeared.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
The abbey gate still stands as a massive archway at one end of the river bridge.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy
The British, on the score of retaliation put to death 221 prisoners, men, women and children.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Enough of the massive walls is left to convey a vivid idea of the olden grandeur of the castle.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy

Cultural definitions for massive retaliation

massive retaliation

The doctrine that the best way to deter aggression is to threaten a potential aggressor with devastation by atomic bombs (see also atomic bomb). See hawks and doves.)