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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Trump is not wrong to see the geo-strategic value in the territory; Greenland sits under the most likely route for ballistic missiles to fly from Russia to the United States.
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Philip Elliott, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
Following that bombing, coined Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran retaliated by targeting Al Udeid with about a dozen ballistic missiles.
—Charlie D'agata, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Russia fired almost 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles and seven cruise missiles at eight regions overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
In one such attack last week, Moscow launched 242 drones, 14 ballistic missiles and 22 cruise missiles against multiple cities in a single night, targeting civilian energy infrastructure and leaving hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without power and heating.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
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Philip Elliott, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
Following that bombing, coined Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran retaliated by targeting Al Udeid with about a dozen ballistic missiles.
—Charlie D'agata, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Russia fired almost 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles and seven cruise missiles at eight regions overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
In one such attack last week, Moscow launched 242 drones, 14 ballistic missiles and 22 cruise missiles against multiple cities in a single night, targeting civilian energy infrastructure and leaving hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without power and heating.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
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 17 Jan. 2026.
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