ballistic missile
noun
plural ballistic missiles
: a usually rocket-powered missile that is launched in a high arc under guidance for its ascent but that is unpowered and unguided once it begins its descent compare cruise missile, guided missile
Examples of ballistic missile in a Sentence
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During an air and missile defense test two years ago, the warship demonstrated its capabilities by intercepting two short-range ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles.
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Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Informed by intelligence gathered by the Mossad’s agents on the ground, Israeli warplanes pounded nuclear facilities, destroyed around half of Iran’s 3,000 ballistic missiles and 80% of its launchers, and fired missiles at the bedrooms of Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders.
—Yossi Melman, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2025
Tehran’s closing act during the recent war—a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting the U.S. airbase in Qatar—was mostly for show.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2025
These include Russia's first use of an intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine last year, and Ukraine's successful drone attack on a Russian airbase last month.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2025
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Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Informed by intelligence gathered by the Mossad’s agents on the ground, Israeli warplanes pounded nuclear facilities, destroyed around half of Iran’s 3,000 ballistic missiles and 80% of its launchers, and fired missiles at the bedrooms of Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders.
—Yossi Melman, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2025
Tehran’s closing act during the recent war—a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting the U.S. airbase in Qatar—was mostly for show.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2025
These include Russia's first use of an intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine last year, and Ukraine's successful drone attack on a Russian airbase last month.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballistic missile
Cite this Entry
“Ballistic missile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballistic%20missile. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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