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
Thorn has identified three distinct ways these tools are now being weaponized against children.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
The industry was at risk of collapsing—until the physical chemist Fritz Haber, at the behest of the German Supreme Command, managed to take a common by-product of dye manufacture and weaponize it.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
Global economic chaos continues as Hormuz is weaponized An early exit from the Iran war would effectively amount to an acknowledgement of Washington’s failure to open the Strait of Hormuz through diplomatic or military pressure.
—Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Bolstered by its ability to regulate oil shipping lanes, Iran has moved to weaponize its growing Gulf dominance.
—Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for weaponize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
The industry was at risk of collapsing—until the physical chemist Fritz Haber, at the behest of the German Supreme Command, managed to take a common by-product of dye manufacture and weaponize it.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
Global economic chaos continues as Hormuz is weaponized An early exit from the Iran war would effectively amount to an acknowledgement of Washington’s failure to open the Strait of Hormuz through diplomatic or military pressure.
—Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Bolstered by its ability to regulate oil shipping lanes, Iran has moved to weaponize its growing Gulf dominance.
—Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for weaponize
Cite this Entry
“Weaponize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weaponize. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
