Third World War
Nuclear nations' nightmare
A hypothetical future global military conflict, often imagined as catastrophic or civilization-ending.
The term assumes succession from the two world wars of the twentieth century: Analysts worry that regional tensions could spark a Third World War.
Sometimes invoked hyperbolically for any major international crisis.
Also called World War III or World War 3.
Distinctive nuclear blast formation
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- ICBMOcean-spanning nuclear delivery system
- warheadMunition's explosive section
Hiroshima · Nagasaki · mutually assured destruction · MAD · deterrence · arms race · proliferation · uranium
Capabilities beyond human limits
- alliancesFormal unions for cooperation
- NATOWestern defense organization
- treatiesFormal agreements between states
- sanctionsPunitive international restrictions
diplomacy · United Nations · proxy wars · escalation · hegemony · sovereignty · multilateral · summits
Postulated event sequence
- simulationImitation of real processes
- flashpointIgnition temperature threshold
- trigger eventIncident that initiates action
- cyberwarfareState-sponsored digital attacks
bioweapons · disinformation · electromagnetic pulse · Taiwan Strait · South China Sea · Eastern Europe · resource wars
Prolonged East-West standoff
- Iron CurtainCold War's political divide
- HolocaustNazi genocide of Jews
- armisticeAgreement to cease hostilities
- Versailles TreatyWWI peace settlement
League of Nations · reconstruction · decolonization · fascism · communism · imperialism · total war
Prophesied world's end
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- end timesProphesied apocalyptic conclusion
collapse · survivors · bunkers · aftermath · wasteland · dystopia · preppers · mass destruction
mushroom cloud
Distinctive nuclear blast formation
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- ICBMOcean-spanning nuclear delivery system
warhead · Hiroshima · Nagasaki · mutually assured destruction · MAD · deterrence · arms race · proliferation · uranium · plutonium
superpowers
Capabilities beyond human limits
- alliancesFormal unions for cooperation
- NATOWestern defense organization
- treatiesFormal agreements between states
sanctions · diplomacy · United Nations · proxy wars · escalation · hegemony · sovereignty · multilateral · summits · peacekeeping
scenario
Postulated event sequence
- simulationImitation of real processes
- flashpointIgnition temperature threshold
- trigger eventIncident that initiates action
cyberwarfare · bioweapons · disinformation · electromagnetic pulse · Taiwan Strait · South China Sea · Eastern Europe · resource wars
Cold War
Prolonged East-West standoff
- Iron CurtainCold War's political divide
- HolocaustNazi genocide of Jews
- armisticeAgreement to cease hostilities
Versailles Treaty · League of Nations · reconstruction · decolonization · fascism · communism · imperialism · total war
doomsday
Prophesied world's end
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
end times · collapse · survivors · bunkers · aftermath · wasteland · dystopia · preppers · mass destruction · scorched earth
battlefield
Combat engagement area
- frontlineCombat's forward position
- troopsMilitary personnel collectively
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
infantry · artillery · tanks · aircraft · navy · soldiers · generals · siege · occupation · resistance
Third World Warborder skirmish
Minor fight at boundary
proxy war · civil war · territorial dispute · police action · border dispute
Third World Warworld peace
Global absence of conflict
global peace · global cooperation · détente · peaceful coexistence · armistice
third, world, thirds, thirdly, worlds, worldly, worldliness, unworldly, otherworldly