nuclear reactor

[noo-klee-er ree-ak-ter, nyoo-] / ˈnu kli ər riˈæk tər, ˈnyu- /

NOUN

atomic reactor

Synonyms

STRONGEST

reactor

WEAK

atomic furnace atomic pile atomic power plant atomic reactor breeder reactor chain reactor core reactor fast breeder reactor neutron factory nuclear furnace nuclear power plant pile plutonium reactor reactor pile thermonuclear reactor uranium reactor

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These grants, the second announced so far, are targeted at small nuclear reactor projects, and the government will pay for 50%.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

A gigawatt is roughly equivalent to the power generated by a nuclear reactor.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

“This is a grid-scale nuclear reactor that will be built in 42 months.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

She sat alongside a nuclear reactor during a flight with Energy Secretary Chris Wright; she still isn’t quite sure she understands what a nuclear reactor is.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

The fuel pellets that drive the chain reaction in a nuclear reactor are not particularly radioactive.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland