cruise missile

noun

: a guided missile that has a terrain-following radar system and that flies at moderate speed and low altitude

Examples of cruise missile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Russia deployed 653 Shahed-type attack drones, 36 cruise missiles, and 17 ballistic missiles against targets nationwide. Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025 The news agency cited Iranian state media as saying that a massive launch Friday of Qadr 110, Qadr 380 and Qadr 360 cruise missiles, as well as ballistic missiles, were directed toward targets in the Gulf of Oman. Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025 In the chat, which the White House later confirmed as authentic, Hegseth revealed how a strike would unfold and when, including the use of F-18 fighter jets and Tomahawk cruise missiles. Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 3 Dec. 2025 The timeline of advanced systems for the People’s Liberation Army’s Rocket Force, which handles its growing arsenal of ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles, could be exposed, along with aerospace and cyber programs, said SIPRI researcher Xiao Liang. Reuters 20 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cruise missile

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cruise missile was in 1959

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cruise missile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cruise%20missile. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

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