ground zero

noun

Synonyms of ground zeronext
1
: the point directly above, below, or at which an explosion and especially a nuclear explosion occurs
2
: the center or origin of rapid, intense, or violent activity or change
Mingo Junction … sits at ground zero of the longest steelworker strike in American history.—Michael Janofsky
broadly : center sense 2a
… the party town that served as ground zero for those corporate … bashes. —Rich Eisen
3
: the very beginning : square one
We'll have to go back to ground zero and start over.

Synonyms of ground zero

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Examples of ground zero in a Sentence

ground zero in the battle over immigration laws a city that was once ground zero for the insurance industry
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.
This comes after several school districts including the Sarasota County School Board, once ground zero for culture war issue disputes, are likely to experience a shift in political leaning come the general election. — Trinity Webster-Bass, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026 Yet Lamb and Well are primarily interested in how a once tiny Hollywood bar on McCadden Place became ground zero for a movement that over the decades has regularly come in and out of popularity. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Florida is ground zero for climate change, but politicians and the news media ignore the facts. — Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026 Kathe Conlon, who is advocating for better 9/11 memorial care, helped search for victims on ground zero nearly 25 years ago. — Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ground zero

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ground zero was in 1946

Rhymes for ground zero

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Browse Nearby Words

ground yew
ground zero
group
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Cite this Entry

“Ground zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20zero. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ground zero

noun
1
: the site of a nuclear explosion
2
: the center of rapid, intense, or violent activity or change
3
: the very beginning : square one

More from Merriam-Webster on ground zero

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ground zero

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