1
: capable of being thrown or projected to strike a distant object
2
: adapted for throwing or hurling missiles
: 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
Examples of missile in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2023
Senior Israeli lawmakers have already called on Netanyahu to provide Ukraine with anti-drone and anti-missile systems.
—Tovah Lazaroff, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2023
Germany has already delivered the first of four Iris-T systems, and Ukraine has also received an Aspide anti-missile system from Spain.
—Anthony Capaccio, Bloomberg.com, 13 Dec. 2022
When China was unhappy with South Korea over its decision to deploy a U.S. anti-missile defense system several years ago, Beijing punished Seoul by curtailing culture exchanges between the two sides.
—Russell Flannery, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022
The Italian government has worked closely with France to transfer the SAMP-T air defense system to Ukraine, and the new aid package will also include the Skyguard anti-missile system and Aspide air defense missiles.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023
The 16,000-ton Zumwalt and her only two sister ships, Michael Monsoor and Lyndon B. Johnson, are presently the only surface warships slated to integrate the CPS missiles, carrying up to 12 of the 8-ton missiles in four multi-missile launch tubes.
—Sebastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 14 Feb. 2023
But an ally that won’t supply its friends with more Patriot anti-missile interceptors simply isn’t credible with these determined adversaries.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Dec. 2021
The spat will likely rekindle memories of China’s decision to dramatically scale back trade with South Korea in 2017 after then-President Moon Jae-in agreed to host a US anti-missile system.
—Time, 10 Jan. 2023
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The Israel Defense Forces on Friday released the results of an investigation into a missile strike that killed several World Central Kitchen aid workers in the Gaza Strip.
—Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence and security matters, expected Iran to respond with drone or missile attacks on Israeli targets, calibrated to avoid an even bigger response from Israel.
—Shane Harris, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
Palestinians hold Friday prayers in Al Huda Mosque despite it having been damaged in an Israeli missile strike, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, March 15, 2024.
—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2024
Russia still has a vast advantage in long-range missiles and drones.
—Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
China grows more menacing in the Pacific, as North Korea drives its missile and nuclear programs forward.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2024
On March 27, a Russian missile attack on densely populated areas of the city of Kharkiv, which borders Russia in northeastern Ukraine, killed one person and wounded 19 others.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Friday’s attack involved more than 75 missiles, including seven advanced, hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Until recently, the U.S. had limited any training of Ukrainians on U.S. weapons systems to Europe and was reluctant to send Patriots to Ukraine – over concerns the advanced anti-missile system and training of Ukrainians on U.S. soil would be seen as escalatory by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2023
Senior Israeli lawmakers have already called on Netanyahu to provide Ukraine with anti-drone and anti-missile systems.
—Tovah Lazaroff, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2023
Germany has already delivered the first of four Iris-T systems, and Ukraine has also received an Aspide anti-missile system from Spain.
—Anthony Capaccio, Bloomberg.com, 13 Dec. 2022
When China was unhappy with South Korea over its decision to deploy a U.S. anti-missile defense system several years ago, Beijing punished Seoul by curtailing culture exchanges between the two sides.
—Russell Flannery, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022
The Italian government has worked closely with France to transfer the SAMP-T air defense system to Ukraine, and the new aid package will also include the Skyguard anti-missile system and Aspide air defense missiles.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023
The 16,000-ton Zumwalt and her only two sister ships, Michael Monsoor and Lyndon B. Johnson, are presently the only surface warships slated to integrate the CPS missiles, carrying up to 12 of the 8-ton missiles in four multi-missile launch tubes.
—Sebastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 14 Feb. 2023
But an ally that won’t supply its friends with more Patriot anti-missile interceptors simply isn’t credible with these determined adversaries.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Dec. 2021
The spat will likely rekindle memories of China’s decision to dramatically scale back trade with South Korea in 2017 after then-President Moon Jae-in agreed to host a US anti-missile system.
—Time, 10 Jan. 2023
Noun
The president has long resisted curbing the arms flow to influence Israel's approach to the war, with aides arguing that many of the munitions sent are air defense missiles.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The Israel Defense Forces on Friday released the results of an investigation into a missile strike that killed several World Central Kitchen aid workers in the Gaza Strip.
—Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence and security matters, expected Iran to respond with drone or missile attacks on Israeli targets, calibrated to avoid an even bigger response from Israel.
—Shane Harris, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
Palestinians hold Friday prayers in Al Huda Mosque despite it having been damaged in an Israeli missile strike, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, March 15, 2024.
—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2024
Russia still has a vast advantage in long-range missiles and drones.
—Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
China grows more menacing in the Pacific, as North Korea drives its missile and nuclear programs forward.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2024
On March 27, a Russian missile attack on densely populated areas of the city of Kharkiv, which borders Russia in northeastern Ukraine, killed one person and wounded 19 others.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Friday’s attack involved more than 75 missiles, including seven advanced, hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'missile.' 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 missile
Cite this Entry
“Missile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/missile. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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