nuclearize

[ noo-klee-uh-rahyz, nyoo-or, by metathesis, -kyuh-luh- ]

verb (used with object)

, nu·cle·ar·ized, nu·cle·ar·iz·ing.

1. to equip with nuclear weapons; give nuclear capability to:

   a fear that armed forces on both sides would become nuclearized.

Pronunciation Note

See nuclear.

Other Words From

• nucle·ar·i·zation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuclearize¹

First recorded in 1955–60; nuclear + -ize