mass destruction
110
4.3
- noun
- /mæs dɪsˈtrʌkʃən/
- NSFW
:
destrucción masiva
- After the earthquake, the region experienced mass destruction that displaced thousands of residents.
- weapons of mass destruction
- WMDs (weapons of mass destruction)
- biological weapons of mass destruction
So will we use weapons of mass destruction?
- So will we use weapons of mass destruction?
- And he said, look, Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction.
- For instance, why would anybody pretend to the West he still had weapons of mass destruction programs when he didn't?
- Like, yo, mass destruction is coming in the sense of like a world catastrophe.
- Iraq weapons of mass destruction and we all knew better, man.
- He was Iraq says weapons of mass destruction, and there was no weapons found.
- He can get those fucking weapons of mass destruction out for you lot.
- Options or a weapon of mass destruction.
- We had even Saddam Hussein's generals believed he had weapons of mass destruction.
- Same as the same is when people think about these weapons of mass destruction, whether at the time people thought there existed.
- But the Western governments deemed that he had weapons of mass destruction or had sort of covert projects going on from everything even to nuclear.
Examples
-
Most experts agree that it is only a matter of time until terrorists use weapons of mass destruction.
Academic text (2000) -
Indeed, with the spread of weapons of mass destruction, these wars could prove more dangerous than ever.
Academic text (2000) -
Where and how quickly will weapons of mass destruction spread?
Academic text (1994) -
Now, let's say you managed to put weapons of mass destruction in space.
-
But in an age of weapons of mass destruction, they are a major danger.
Academic text (2015) -
We think that the weapons of mass destruction cannot be controlled by local or regional measures.
Academic text (1994) -
A successful attack with weapons of mass destruction could certainly take thousands or tens of thousands of lives.
Academic text (1998) -
Finally, the international community must redouble its efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
Academic text (1998) -
I believe the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction presents the greatest threat that the world has ever known.
Academic text (2000) -
Another war between these two antagonists could well involve weapons of mass destruction.
Academic text (1996)
Synonyms
849
3.0
Severe damage that makes something no longer exist or cannot be fixed
90
4.8
Great destruction that leaves places badly damaged, for example after a war or storm
6
7.9
Complete destruction that leaves nothing behind
3
3.8
Serious harm that affects a large area or many things
1
4.8
Damage across a large area that destroys buildings and homes
1
6.5
A wide area that is badly damaged, often by war or natural disaster
A state of complete destruction that leaves a place ruined
The act of destroying something so it is completely ruined
Antonyms
How Widespread
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'widespread and extensive damage' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'mass' (large scale/quantity) with 'destruction' (act of causing irreversible damage). This compositional pattern is common across languages (e.g. Spanish 'destrucción masiva') and follows straightforward adjective-noun logic, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will infer the phrase's meaning.
Etymology
Mass destruction uses mass, meaning 'a large amount' or 'group', and destruction, meaning 'complete damage'. It creates a strong image of damage over a wide area or many things, so it means 'widespread and severe damage'.