militarize
verb
mil·i·ta·rize
ˈmi-lə-tə-ˌrīz 
militarized; militarizing
1
: to give a military character to
militarize a country's foreign policy
2
: to equip with military forces and defenses
The area is now fully militarized.
a militarized zone
3
: to adapt for military use
Examples of militarize in a Sentence
militarize a country's foreign policy
Recent Examples on the Web
The grid of international borders must therefore be ever more militarized, or else the system of states—which is now explicitly a class system, whose functioning depends on mass immobilization—cannot work.
—
Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Trump said Xi also told him that China intended to continue buying oil from Iran, even as Beijing opposed any effort by Iran to militarize or effectively toll the Strait of Hormuz.
—Nik Popli, Time, 14 May 2026
The current administration’s use of militarized, aggressive enforcement is unacceptable.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Some national parks have militarized their ranger forces to combat poachers, while private reserves typically pay private security companies like Milk River to keep their rhinos safe.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for militarize
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Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Trump said Xi also told him that China intended to continue buying oil from Iran, even as Beijing opposed any effort by Iran to militarize or effectively toll the Strait of Hormuz.
—Nik Popli, Time, 14 May 2026
The current administration’s use of militarized, aggressive enforcement is unacceptable.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Some national parks have militarized their ranger forces to combat poachers, while private reserves typically pay private security companies like Milk River to keep their rhinos safe.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for militarize
Cite this Entry
“Militarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/militarize. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
militarize
verb
mil·i·ta·rize
ˈmil-ə-tə-ˌrīz
militarized; militarizing
1
: to equip with military forces and defenses
2
: to give a military character to
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