World War III
The final conflict
World War III is a hypothetical global conflict between major powers, anticipated as a potential successor to World War II.
During the Cold War, the term evoked nuclear confrontation between the United States and Soviet Union.
It appears in speculation about geopolitical flashpoints and in hyperbolic descriptions of any escalating conflict: If this keeps up, we'll have World War III on our hands.
Prophesied world's end
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- end-timesProphesied concluding era
- cataclysmViolent, large-scale disaster
devastation · obliteration · apocalypse · collapse · wasteland · survivors · bunkers · aftermath
Capabilities beyond human limits
- alliancesFormal unions for cooperation
- NATOWestern defense organization
- treatiesFormal agreements between states
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
United Nations · sanctions · sovereignty · hegemony · arms race · cold war · escalation · flashpoint
Explosive missile components
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- ICBMOcean-spanning nuclear delivery system
- mushroom cloudDistinctive nuclear blast formation
deterrence · proliferation · mutually assured destruction · MAD · thermonuclear · first strike · second strike · nuclear winter
Postulated event sequence
- simulationImitation of real processes
- war gamesSimulated combat training
- think tankPolicy research organization
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
projections · prevention · crisis management · contingency · hypothetical · close calls · warning systems · false alarm
Intense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- traumaLasting psychological wound
paranoia · fear · apprehension · existential dread · fatalism · despair · hysteria · nuclear anxiety
Combat engagement area
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
- infantryGround combat troops
- tanksStorage vessels for liquids
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
navy · soldiers · generals · frontline · casualties · campaign · reinforcements · mobilization
doomsday
Prophesied world's end
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- end-timesProphesied concluding era
cataclysm · devastation · obliteration · apocalypse · collapse · wasteland · survivors · bunkers · aftermath · rebuilding
superpowers
Capabilities beyond human limits
- alliancesFormal unions for cooperation
- NATOWestern defense organization
- treatiesFormal agreements between states
diplomacy · United Nations · sanctions · sovereignty · hegemony · arms race · cold war · escalation · flashpoint · brinksmanship
warheads
Explosive missile components
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- ICBMOcean-spanning nuclear delivery system
mushroom cloud · deterrence · proliferation · mutually assured destruction · MAD · thermonuclear · first strike · second strike · nuclear winter · missile silos
scenario
Postulated event sequence
- simulationImitation of real processes
- war gamesSimulated combat training
- think tankPolicy research organization
deterrence · projections · prevention · crisis management · contingency · hypothetical · close calls · warning systems · false alarm · doomsday clock
dread
Intense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
trauma · paranoia · fear · apprehension · existential dread · fatalism · despair · hysteria · nuclear anxiety · bomb shelters
battlefield
Combat engagement area
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
- infantryGround combat troops
- tanksStorage vessels for liquids
aircraft · navy · soldiers · generals · frontline · casualties · campaign · reinforcements · mobilization · invasion
World War IIIskirmish
Brief, limited combat
civil war · proxy war · border clash · regional conflict · incident
World War IIIworld peace
Global absence of conflict
global peace · universal peace · Pax Americana · Pax Romana · peacetime
world, worlds, wars, warred, warring, warlike, warrior, warriors, worldly