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
Instead of promoting stability, this policy encouraged a regional arms race and war.
MAKING PEACE
No matter what Washington does, there will be resistance to its Middle East vision.
—
Maria Fantappie and Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2023
Through the 1950s and ’60s, the United States and the Soviet Union had fought a high-altitude arms race, building bigger, faster bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023
Who today benefits from disinterring the arms race?
—The Editors, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023
This arms race within the industry would eventually settle into Coventry in the Midlands.
—Brett Braley, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2023
Prince Mohammed already has said the kingdom would pursue an atomic bomb if Iran had one, potentially creating a nuclear arms race in the region as Tehran's program continues to advance closer to weapons-grade levels.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2023
Mark Kelly President Biden rightly says the U.S. is in a technological arms race with China.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 7 Nov. 2023
Viral arms race Although researchers have found satellite-helper viral systems in pretty much every domain of life, their importance to biology remains underappreciated.
—Ivan Erill, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2023
Men of Westwood seeks to keep UCLA at the forefront of the NIL arms race
Oct. 7, 2023
Even the highlight video featuring dunks, hand-slapping and chest-bumps wasn’t accompanied by the usual blustery narration.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2023
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Maria Fantappie and Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2023
Through the 1950s and ’60s, the United States and the Soviet Union had fought a high-altitude arms race, building bigger, faster bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023
Who today benefits from disinterring the arms race?
—The Editors, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023
This arms race within the industry would eventually settle into Coventry in the Midlands.
—Brett Braley, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2023
Prince Mohammed already has said the kingdom would pursue an atomic bomb if Iran had one, potentially creating a nuclear arms race in the region as Tehran's program continues to advance closer to weapons-grade levels.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2023
Mark Kelly President Biden rightly says the U.S. is in a technological arms race with China.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 7 Nov. 2023
Viral arms race Although researchers have found satellite-helper viral systems in pretty much every domain of life, their importance to biology remains underappreciated.
—Ivan Erill, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2023
Men of Westwood seeks to keep UCLA at the forefront of the NIL arms race
Oct. 7, 2023
Even the highlight video featuring dunks, hand-slapping and chest-bumps wasn’t accompanied by the usual blustery narration.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arms race.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1921, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Arms race.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arms%20race. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about arms race
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