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

The agency wants an interceptor capable of addressing ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missile threats. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026

So far, Ukraine has relied on cheap long-range drones and cruise missiles to strike deep into Russian territory, but these weapons are slower and easier to shoot down once detected. — Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026

In 2023, for example, the Black Sea Fleet's headquarters building in the city was badly damaged by a Ukrainian cruise missile attack. — David Brennan, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

Russia is quickly stepping up production of the kind of ballistic and cruise missiles that can dangerously exploit Ukraine’s shortage of interceptor missiles. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cruise missile

• abyssal
• dismissal
• epistle
• bristle
• fissile
• gristle
• missal
• nissl
• thistle
• whistle