antinuclear

adjective

an·​ti·​nu·​cle·​ar ˌan-tē-ˈnü-klē-ər How to pronounce antinuclear (audio) ˌan-ˌtī- How to pronounce antinuclear (audio)
-ˈnyü-
nonstandard -kyə-lər
1
: opposing the use or production of nuclear power
2
: tending to react with cell nuclei or their components (such as DNA)
antinuclear antibodies

Examples of antinuclear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The study also highlights a type of protein called antinuclear antibodies, which bind to the nucleus of cells and are one of the hallmarks of lupus. — Aria Bendix, NBC news, 13 Nov. 2025 But once military rule ended, in 1987, antinuclear sentiment began to take hold. — Jim Ellis, Foreign Affairs, 30 July 2025 The researchers hypothesize that perhaps only certain EBV strains are able to turn B cells into the antigen-presenting cells that go on to recruit antinuclear B cells. — New Atlas, 21 Nov. 2025 Community radio in Germany, often called free radio, goes back to antinuclear activists launching Radio Dreyeckland in Freiburg in the late 1970s. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for antinuclear

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of antinuclear was in 1950

Rhymes for antinuclear

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Browse Nearby Words

antinovel
antinuclear
antinucleon
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Cite this Entry

“Antinuclear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antinuclear. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

antinuclear

adjective
an·​ti·​nu·​cle·​ar -ˈn(y)ü-klē-ər How to pronounce antinuclear (audio)
: being antibodies or autoantibodies that react with components and especially DNA of cell nuclei and that tend to occur frequently in connective tissue diseases (as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögrens syndrome)
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