Wiktionary
n. A military doctrine and nuclear strategy in which a state commits itself to retaliate in much greater force when attacked.
Wikipedia
Massive retaliation, also known as a massive response or massive deterrence, is a military doctrine and nuclear strategy in which a state commits itself to retaliate in much greater force in the event of an attack.
Usage examples of "massive retaliation".
Israel has a long-standing policy of launching immediate and massive retaliation against any terrorist attack.
An attack on the United States was under way, and the bludgeon of massive retaliation was about to start its swing.
These weapons are not deployed around Terra, so a strike on their homeworld will only trigger massive retaliation.
The strategic implications of nuclear winter were disquieting to those wedded to a policy of massive retaliation to deter a nuclear attack, or to those wishing to preserve the option of a massive first strike.
I want every TV morning show, plus radio, talking tomorrow morning about how serious the president's condition really is and that high-level government sources say a massive retaliation is coming.
His own goal was that if the American bomber attack was successful, he wanted to be sure that Red Star massive retaliation was on the way before the intricate satellite-to-warhead system was destroyed.
It wasn't quite that bad on an engagement basis, as they tended to be clustered in urban areas with only small patrols detached elsewhere and protected by the threat of massive retaliation.