Dictionary

mutual assured destruction en · NOUN

Etymology

A pun on "assured destruction" ("a highly reliable ability to inflict unacceptable damage ... even after absorbing a surprise first strike"), a term used in discussions of American nuclear strategy in the 1960s. Perhaps coined by Donald Brennan, conservative defense analyst and a public critic of the policy.

Meanings

1. (qualifier:public policy, uncountable) The threat of massive retaliation using nuclear weapons should a potential enemy use them first, both sides being annihilated in the event of war.

Forms

Deriveds

assured destruction

Relateds

internecine · Kilkenny cat · eye for an eye

Synonyms

MAD

Translations (16)

tr karşılıklı kesin yıkım (threat) · es destrucción mutua / mutual / recíproca asegurada (threat) · fr destruction mutuelle assurée (threat) · fa نابودی قطعی متقابل (threat) · de Gleichgewicht des Schreckens (threat) · ro distrugere reciprocă asigurată (threat) · pl wzajemne zagwarantowane zniszczenie (threat) · ko 상호확실파괴 (threat) · ja 相互確証破壊 (threat) · cmn 相互保證毀滅 /相互保证毁灭 (threat) · ko 상호확증파괴 (threat) · vi đảm bảo phá huỷ lẫn nhau (threat) · ru взаимное гарантированное уничтожение (threat) · ar دمار متبادل (threat) · nl gegarandeerde wederzijdse vernietiging (threat) · fi molemminpuolinen varmistettu tuho (threat)