weaponize
verb
weap·on·ize
ˈwe-pə-ˌnīz 
weaponized; weaponizing
: to adapt for use as a weapon of war
—often used figuratively
… the ways people weaponize fear in order to hide their own.—
Justin Chang
Justin ChangExamples of weaponize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The current controversy reflects a growing willingness to weaponize procedural claims to challenge otherwise-legitimate executive acts.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Alisha Simpson-Watt, LCSW, BCBA, LBA, the Executive Clinical Director and Founder of Collaborative ABA Services, LLC, says this challenge essentially weaponizes social media and, very troublingly, even goes so far as to normalize exclusionary behavior.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 3 Dec. 2025
According to Carvajal, the strategy to weaponize drug trafficking was suggested to Chávez by the Cuban regime in the mid-2000s and later implemented with support from FARC, ELN, Cuban operatives and Hezbollah.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
There’s a terrifying vacancy at Matthew’s core, a shamelessness which Pellerin weaponizes as Russell’s film blurs the lines between Matthew’s devotion, predation, and genuine desire.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for weaponize
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Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Alisha Simpson-Watt, LCSW, BCBA, LBA, the Executive Clinical Director and Founder of Collaborative ABA Services, LLC, says this challenge essentially weaponizes social media and, very troublingly, even goes so far as to normalize exclusionary behavior.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 3 Dec. 2025
According to Carvajal, the strategy to weaponize drug trafficking was suggested to Chávez by the Cuban regime in the mid-2000s and later implemented with support from FARC, ELN, Cuban operatives and Hezbollah.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
There’s a terrifying vacancy at Matthew’s core, a shamelessness which Pellerin weaponizes as Russell’s film blurs the lines between Matthew’s devotion, predation, and genuine desire.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for weaponize
Cite this Entry
“Weaponize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weaponize. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
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