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
This term broadly refers to acts of sabotage on infrastructure, including cables, or tactics like weaponizing migration and executing crippling cyberattacks.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
Fiona Havers, a former CDC official who resigned in June over vaccine policy, said Kennedy is weaponizing the agency.
—Sriparna Roy, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025
The same centralized structures that accelerate deployment also weaponize climate finance as geopolitical leverage rather than global need.
—William Burke-White, Time, 20 Nov. 2025
Then, while engaged in a high-speed chase in an attempt to evade law enforcement personnel, the suspect allegedly weaponized his van and rammed it at law enforcement officials who were in pursuit.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for weaponize
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MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
Fiona Havers, a former CDC official who resigned in June over vaccine policy, said Kennedy is weaponizing the agency.
—Sriparna Roy, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025
The same centralized structures that accelerate deployment also weaponize climate finance as geopolitical leverage rather than global need.
—William Burke-White, Time, 20 Nov. 2025
Then, while engaged in a high-speed chase in an attempt to evade law enforcement personnel, the suspect allegedly weaponized his van and rammed it at law enforcement officials who were in pursuit.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 17 Nov. 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 26 Nov. 2025.
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