arms race
noun
: a race between hostile nations to accumulate or develop weapons
broadly
: an ever escalating race or competition
Examples of arms race in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even before the first atomic detonation at the Trinity test, James Franck, Eugene Rabinowitch, Leo Szilard and others issued a report warning of the far-reaching consequences of unleashing the atomic bomb, highlighting the dangers of a nuclear arms race.
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Daniel Holz, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
China’s infrastructure – and Xi’s increasingly consolidated rule over its military as evidenced by recent purges of top generals – gives it some advantage in the event of an arms race, and Beijing may see little reason to concede.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
The push also comes at a time when retailers appear to be in a same-day delivery arms race of sorts, with merchants turning to more third-party last-mile delivery services to get products at the consumer’s doorstep faster.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 31 Mar. 2026
Twenty or thirty years ago, stadiums entered a luxury arms race, and they are now largely designed for lavish fan experiences affordable to only a few.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arms race
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Daniel Holz, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
China’s infrastructure – and Xi’s increasingly consolidated rule over its military as evidenced by recent purges of top generals – gives it some advantage in the event of an arms race, and Beijing may see little reason to concede.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
The push also comes at a time when retailers appear to be in a same-day delivery arms race of sorts, with merchants turning to more third-party last-mile delivery services to get products at the consumer’s doorstep faster.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 31 Mar. 2026
Twenty or thirty years ago, stadiums entered a luxury arms race, and they are now largely designed for lavish fan experiences affordable to only a few.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arms race
Cite this Entry
“Arms race.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arms%20race. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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