cannon fodder
noun
1
: soldiers regarded or treated as expendable in battle
2
: an expendable or exploitable person, group, or thing
celebrities who have become cannon fodder for the tabloids
Examples of cannon fodder in a Sentence
The poorly trained forces are little more than cannon fodder.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brake’s part is brief, while other cast members provide no more than cannon fodder.
—
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
These children are cannon fodder, dispensable pawns in someone else’s war.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Although Pancho Villa was considered by many Mexicans a hero of that revolution, my great-grandfather regarded him as a tyrant who forced Indigenous people into battle, treating them as little more than cannon fodder.
—jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
By supplying weapons to Ukraine, the U.S. is essentially in a proxy war against Putin and should welcome the chance to make a dent, however small, in his supply of cannon fodder.
—Air Mail, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cannon fodder
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Dennis Harvey, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
These children are cannon fodder, dispensable pawns in someone else’s war.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Although Pancho Villa was considered by many Mexicans a hero of that revolution, my great-grandfather regarded him as a tyrant who forced Indigenous people into battle, treating them as little more than cannon fodder.
—jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
By supplying weapons to Ukraine, the U.S. is essentially in a proxy war against Putin and should welcome the chance to make a dent, however small, in his supply of cannon fodder.
—Air Mail, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cannon fodder
Cite this Entry
“Cannon fodder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cannon%20fodder. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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