hypersonic
adjective
hy·per·son·ic
ˌhī-pər-ˈsä-nik 
1
: of or relating to speed five or more times that of sound in air compare sonic
2
: moving, capable of moving, or utilizing air currents that move at hypersonic speed
hypersonic wind tunnel
Examples of hypersonic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The announcement comes amid an international scramble for hypersonic weapons – China, Russia and North Korea have all claimed to make advances in developing the technology.
—
Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2024
Last year, the Pentagon requested $4.7 billion for hypersonic research in the FY2023 budget and has been developing various potential hypersonic weapons options like the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon.
—Sassie Duggleby, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024
Does McHenry really want Americans to serve on the boards of Chinese firms that work on, say, the PLA’s hypersonic weapons?
—The Editors, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023
Its beyond line-of-sight capability will also offer broad situational awareness of the western Pacific as well as cueing for space and terrestrial sensors tracking hypersonic weapons, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, enemy aircraft, and ships.
—Eric Tegler, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
When combined with the next generation of hypersonic weapons the United States is testing and fielding, these new satellites will allow the U.S. military to strike long-range targets along short timelines, and with less risk to its service members.
—David Zikusoka, Foreign Affairs, 2 Feb. 2024
Kim’s speech came just a day after North Korea claimed to have fired a medium-range missile with a hypersonic warhead, which — if true — would give it a highly maneuverable weapon that could travel at low altitudes and at five times the speed of sound.
—Min Joo Kim, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024
After the Ukrainian air force issued warnings about incoming hypersonic missiles, people wearing pajamas underneath their coats took sleeping bags, mats and their pets to subway stations while loud explosions echoed above the city.
—Illia Novikov and Hanna Arhirova, USA TODAY, 2 Jan. 2024
On Sunday, Stratolaunch completed the first captive carry flight of a powered Talon A hypersonic vehicle under the wing of its larger carrier aircraft, Roc.
—Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023
Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2024
Last year, the Pentagon requested $4.7 billion for hypersonic research in the FY2023 budget and has been developing various potential hypersonic weapons options like the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon.
—Sassie Duggleby, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024
Does McHenry really want Americans to serve on the boards of Chinese firms that work on, say, the PLA’s hypersonic weapons?
—The Editors, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023
Its beyond line-of-sight capability will also offer broad situational awareness of the western Pacific as well as cueing for space and terrestrial sensors tracking hypersonic weapons, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, enemy aircraft, and ships.
—Eric Tegler, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
When combined with the next generation of hypersonic weapons the United States is testing and fielding, these new satellites will allow the U.S. military to strike long-range targets along short timelines, and with less risk to its service members.
—David Zikusoka, Foreign Affairs, 2 Feb. 2024
Kim’s speech came just a day after North Korea claimed to have fired a medium-range missile with a hypersonic warhead, which — if true — would give it a highly maneuverable weapon that could travel at low altitudes and at five times the speed of sound.
—Min Joo Kim, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024
After the Ukrainian air force issued warnings about incoming hypersonic missiles, people wearing pajamas underneath their coats took sleeping bags, mats and their pets to subway stations while loud explosions echoed above the city.
—Illia Novikov and Hanna Arhirova, USA TODAY, 2 Jan. 2024
On Sunday, Stratolaunch completed the first captive carry flight of a powered Talon A hypersonic vehicle under the wing of its larger carrier aircraft, Roc.
—Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypersonic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hypersonic
Cite this Entry
“Hypersonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypersonic. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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