: the section of a missile containing the explosive, chemical, or incendiary charge
Examples of warhead in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But opponents of nuclear weapons modernization point out that WIPP and Los Alamos are inextricably linked because the production of new warheads requires a repository for waste products.
—
Abe Streep, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023
China has developed an arsenal of more than 500 operational nuclear warheads and is set to double that number by the end of the decade, exceeding previous Pentagon estimates, according to a Defense Department report.
—Cate Cadell, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023
While some versions of the missiles can go as far as about 180 miles, the ones sent to Ukraine have a shorter range and carry cluster munitions, which, when fired, open in the air, releasing hundreds of bomblets rather than a single warhead.
—Lolita C. Baldor The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2023
China is also making major investments in its military, according to a Pentagon report released last week, including a doubling of its operational nuclear warheads by the end of the decade.
—Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2023
The ballistic missile system is capable of carrying at least 10 nuclear warheads and is intended to replace the R-36 ICBMs that are known by the NATO reporting name of Satan.
—Brie Stimson, Fox News, 2 Sep. 2023
What aspects of game or decision theory can make any sort of comprehensive sense out of the fact that around 13,000 nuclear warheads now exist, enough to obliterate the planet several times over?
—TIME, 28 Oct. 2023
The Chinese military, the People’s Liberation Army, remains on track to have more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, the Pentagon estimates, most of them for missiles and other weapons capable of striking the continental United States.
—Chris Buckley, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023
While no Israeli official will confirm or deny the existence of nuclear weapons, it is widely believed that the country possesses 80-90 nuclear warheads.
—Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 11 Oct. 2023
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Abe Streep, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023
China has developed an arsenal of more than 500 operational nuclear warheads and is set to double that number by the end of the decade, exceeding previous Pentagon estimates, according to a Defense Department report.
—Cate Cadell, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023
While some versions of the missiles can go as far as about 180 miles, the ones sent to Ukraine have a shorter range and carry cluster munitions, which, when fired, open in the air, releasing hundreds of bomblets rather than a single warhead.
—Lolita C. Baldor The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2023
China is also making major investments in its military, according to a Pentagon report released last week, including a doubling of its operational nuclear warheads by the end of the decade.
—Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2023
The ballistic missile system is capable of carrying at least 10 nuclear warheads and is intended to replace the R-36 ICBMs that are known by the NATO reporting name of Satan.
—Brie Stimson, Fox News, 2 Sep. 2023
What aspects of game or decision theory can make any sort of comprehensive sense out of the fact that around 13,000 nuclear warheads now exist, enough to obliterate the planet several times over?
—TIME, 28 Oct. 2023
The Chinese military, the People’s Liberation Army, remains on track to have more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, the Pentagon estimates, most of them for missiles and other weapons capable of striking the continental United States.
—Chris Buckley, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023
While no Israeli official will confirm or deny the existence of nuclear weapons, it is widely believed that the country possesses 80-90 nuclear warheads.
—Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 11 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'warhead.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1898, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near warhead
Cite this Entry
“Warhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warhead. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
warhead
noun
war·head
ˈwȯ(ə)r-ˌhed 
: the section of a missile containing the charge
More from Merriam-Webster on warhead
Nglish: Translation of warhead for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about warhead
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