nuclear
adjective
ˈnyü-
W. H. Wickwar
How do you pronounce nuclear?: Usage Guide
Though disapproved of by many, pronunciations ending in \-kyə-lər\ have been found in widespread use among educated speakers including scientists, lawyers, professors, congressmen, U.S. cabinet members, and at least two U.S. presidents and one vice president. While most common in the U.S., these pronunciations have also been heard from British and Canadian speakers.
Tony KornheiserExamples of nuclear in a Sentence
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 June 2024
The center was established in 1954 by a group of visionaries (including the famous Danish physicist Niels Bohr) who wanted to create a world-class laboratory for nuclear research in Europe.
—Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2024
Indeed, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to speculation earlier this week that Mr. Biden’s decision was coming by again warning that any such green light would risk nuclear war.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 May 2024
The name had been lifted from a joke posted on Hebrew social media, but Israel’s spy agency has killed several senior Iranian nuclear scientists and military figures in recent years.
—Kay Armin Serjoie, TIME, 28 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for nuclear 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nuclear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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'Mispronunciations' That May Be Fine
'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.
Dictionary Entries Near nuclear
Cite this Entry
“Nuclear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nuclear. Accessed 5 Jun. 2024.
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