# fail-deadly

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˌfeɪlˈdɛdli/

## Definitions
1. Of a nuclear weapons strategy: encouraging deterrence by guaranteeing an automatic, immediate, and overwhelming response to an attack, even if the command-and-control infrastructure has been damaged by the enemy's first strike.

## Etymology
From fail (verb) + deadly, modelled on fail-safe.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/fail-deadly