missile

adjective

mis·sile | \ ˈmi-səl

, chiefly British -ˌsīl

Definition of missile

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : capable of being thrown or projected to strike a distant object

2 : adapted for throwing or hurling missiles

missile

noun

Definition of missile (Entry 2 of 2)

: an object (such as a weapon) thrown or projected usually so as to strike something at a distance stones, artillery shells, bullets, and rockets are missiles : such as

a : guided missile

b : ballistic missile

Examples of missile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Missile launches and nuclear tests are banned by the U.N. Security Council, but North Korea has paid no attention to its resolutions. — The Washington Post, OregonLive.com, "Trump: 'All options are on the table' after North Korea missile launch," 29 Aug. 2017 Missile launches and nuclear tests are banned by the U.N. Security Council, but North Korea has paid no attention to its resolutions. — John Wagner, Washington Post, "Trump: ‘All options are on the table’ after North Korea launched missile over Japan," 29 Aug. 2017 Missile experts say the North’s shift to solids came as a surprise. — David E. Sanger And William J. Broad, New York Times, "North Korean Tests Add Urgency for U.S. to Fix Defense Flaws," 29 May 2017 Missile experts haven't identified the four intermediate-range missiles that landed on Monday off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, about 620 miles from its... — Jonathan Cheng, WSJ, "North Korea Missile Test Stirs ICBM Fears," 7 Mar. 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Beijing has shown with its extraordinary theater tactical missile buildup how to gain regional advantage by exploiting INF treaty limits imposed only on the U.S. and Russia.... — WSJ, "More Russian Talks Likely Won’t Stop a Nuclear War," 21 Apr. 2019 Lockheed Martin, which makes both systems, says the PDAS improves missile warning capability for pilots. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Thanks to F-35 Tech, V-280 Tiltrotor Pilots Will Soon See in All Directions," 18 Apr. 2019 Eventually, the walls would start to break apart under the onslaught of rock missiles. — William Gurstelle, Popular Mechanics, "How to Storm a Castle," 11 Apr. 2019 The Russian military said on Tuesday that the plane was hit by accident by one of the missiles, which were aimed at four Israeli fighter jets that were attacking targets in the coastal province of Latakia late on Monday. — Fox News, "The Latest: Details released of agreement on Syria's Idlib," 18 Sep. 2018 The agency was mulling which to back when the United States announced the resumption of Iran sanctions, asserting this would pressure Tehran to curb its support for terrorism and its development of advanced missiles. — Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, "Italy’s Economy Was Humming Nicely. Then Came Trump.," 22 June 2018 With space so sensitive and missile technology so similar, these safeguards are meant to protect national security as well as American intellectual property. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "Can the U.S. Save Alcantara, Brazil’s Cursed Spaceport?," 20 Mar. 2019 Video showing puffs of smoke erupting in the sky as the plane fell were consistent with an in-flight breakup rather than an in-flight fire aboard the plane, Cox said Witnesses described the plane as sounding like a missile or a racing motorcycle. — John Antczak, The Seattle Times, "Police: Pilot in fatal California crash had fake records," 6 Feb. 2019 Each bomber releases 20 Assault Breaker standoff missiles. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Pentagon Is Reviving Cold War “Assault Breaker” Concept to Thwart China, Russia," 4 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'missile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.