Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

nuclear option

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.46 in modern English

Syllables: nu-cle-ar op-tion
IPA

17

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

4

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

In resolving a problem, the possible course of action that is considered the most extreme because of its collateral consequences.

noun

A procedure by which the United States Senate can decide any issue with a simple majority, rather than the usual supermajority.

American usage

Example Sentences

"Mr. Storey said his “nuclear option” was moving to Ocean Drive and living in his house full time, but that, too, came with obvious risks."
"In a land that has weathered 12 military coups in the past 91 years, the specter of military intervention looms large, though Thitinan calls it a “nuclear option” given the challenges any new junta would face."
"So now that the Republicans have used the nuclear option to kill the poor filibuster to clear the way for the elevation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, we can lose perspective."

Etymology

From analogy with the political decision to be the first to use nuclear weapons in a war.

Usage

American usage

Inflected Forms

nuclear options (plural)

Questions

What does nuclear option mean?: In resolving a problem, the possible course of action that is considered the most extreme because of its collateral consequences.
Where does nuclear option come from?: From analogy with the political decision to be the first to use nuclear weapons in a war.

How to pronounce nuclear option

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