blitzkrieg

noun

blitz·​krieg ˈblits-ˌkrēg How to pronounce blitzkrieg (audio)
1
: war conducted with great speed and force
specifically : a violent surprise offensive by massed air forces and mechanized ground forces in close coordination
2
blitzkrieg transitive verb

Examples of blitzkrieg in a Sentence

the stunned survivors of the crash were then confronted with a blitzkrieg of insensitive questions from the media the war began with a blitzkrieg that was designed to shock the enemy into submission
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Russia’s blitzkrieg had failed, and Ukraine successfully defended its independence. Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2024 An opening disclaimer tells us that 1.25 million Londoners were evacuated during Germany’s months-long blitzkrieg attacks against the city, and roughly half were children. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024 Two years after the democratic space powers cut almost all ties with Roscosmos - following Russia’s blitzkrieg on liberal Ukraine - space agency leaders planet-wide are joining a summit in Milan to map out their collective future in light of the Kremlin’s endangering life in orbit. Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 Hammering Away So far, all three businesses Starbuck has targeted with his social-media blitzkriegs have agreed to scale back DEI efforts. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for blitzkrieg 

Word History

Etymology

German, from Blitz lightning + Krieg war

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blitzkrieg was in 1937

Dictionary Entries Near blitzkrieg

Cite this Entry

“Blitzkrieg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blitzkrieg. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

blitzkrieg

noun
blitz·​krieg ˈblits-ˌkrēg How to pronounce blitzkrieg (audio)
: a sudden violent enemy attack
blitzkrieg verb
Etymology

German, literally, "lightning war"

More from Merriam-Webster on blitzkrieg

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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