weapons of mass destruction
Catastrophic military armaments
Weapons of mass destruction are armaments capable of killing large numbers of people or causing catastrophic damage—specifically nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological weapons.
The term gained prominence in arms control treaties and intensified public attention during debates over the 2003 Iraq War: The invasion was justified by claims of weapons of mass destruction that were never found.
Often abbreviated WMD.
Of elemental particles
- hydrogen bombThermonuclear fusion weapon
- thermonuclearInvolving nuclear fusion heat
- warheadMunition's explosive section
- ICBMOcean-spanning nuclear delivery system
missile silo · plutonium · uranium · enrichment · fission · fusion · radioactivity · fallout
Weaponized neurotoxin
- sarinOrganophosphate chemical weapon
- VXChemical warfare toxin
- mustard gasBlistering chemical warfare agent
- chlorine gasReactive halogen in gaseous state
phosgene · gas mask · atropine · decontamination · chemical burn · stockpile
Event harming many simultaneously
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- irradiationExposure to radiant energy
fallout zone · exclusion zone · genocide · extinction event · nuclear winter · long-term effects · birth defects · cancer cluster
Escalating weapons accumulation between nations
- nuclear proliferationWeapons capability spreading internationally
- rogue stateHostile, isolated country
- black marketIllicit trading system
- centrifugeSpinning density-separation device
smuggling · treaty violation · weaponization · export controls · safeguards
Spore-forming bacterial disease
- smallpoxDeadly pustular viral infection
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
- botulismBacterial food poisoning
- ricinToxic castor compound
bioweapon · germ warfare · bioterrorism · spores · toxin · hemorrhagic fever · brucellosis · delivery system
Mutual annihilation doctrine
- nuclear umbrellaAllied atomic defense guarantee
- second strikeResponse to initial attack
- triadGroup of three
- arms controlRegulating weapons between nations
disarmament · deterrent · brinkmanship · escalation · de-escalation · détente · test ban · verification
atomic
Of elemental particles
- hydrogen bombThermonuclear fusion weapon
- thermonuclearInvolving nuclear fusion heat
- warheadMunition's explosive section
ICBM · missile silo · plutonium · uranium · enrichment · fission · fusion · radioactivity · fallout · radiation sickness
nerve agent
Weaponized neurotoxin
- sarinOrganophosphate chemical weapon
- VXChemical warfare toxin
- mustard gasBlistering chemical warfare agent
chlorine gas · phosgene · gas mask · atropine · decontamination · chemical burn · stockpile
mass casualty
Event harming many simultaneously
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
irradiation · fallout zone · exclusion zone · genocide · extinction event · nuclear winter · long-term effects · birth defects · cancer cluster · uninhabitable
arms race
Escalating weapons accumulation between nations
- nuclear proliferationWeapons capability spreading internationally
- rogue stateHostile, isolated country
- black marketIllicit trading system
centrifuge · smuggling · treaty violation · weaponization · export controls · safeguards
anthrax
Spore-forming bacterial disease
- smallpoxDeadly pustular viral infection
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
- botulismBacterial food poisoning
ricin · bioweapon · germ warfare · bioterrorism · spores · toxin · hemorrhagic fever · brucellosis · delivery system · incubation
MAD
Mutual annihilation doctrine
- nuclear umbrellaAllied atomic defense guarantee
- second strikeResponse to initial attack
- triadGroup of three
arms control · disarmament · deterrent · brinkmanship · escalation · de-escalation · détente · test ban · verification · moratorium
- Bushismsstrategery, nucular, internets, fuzzy math, decider
- Blair EraTony Blair, New Labour, Gordon Brown, spin doctors, Downing Street
weapons of mass destructionconventional weapons
Non-WMD military equipment
conventional arms · small arms · handguns · infantry weapons · knives
weapons of mass destructionhumanitarian aid
Crisis relief for sufferers
medical supplies · vaccines · construction equipment · agricultural tools · famine relief
weapons of mass destructiondefensive systems
Countermeasures against threats
weapon, weapons, destruction, weaponry, armament, weaponize, weaponized, weaponizes, weaponizing