weaponize

verb

weap·​on·​ize ˈwe-pə-ˌnīz 

weaponized; weaponizing

transitive verb

: 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

weaponization

ˌwe-pə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of weaponize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The son of Egyptian immigrants, El-Sayed is aware that his Islamic faith can be weaponized or misunderstood. — ABC News, 31 July 2026

According to Robbins, audience members described how Soviet authorities allegedly kept damaging personal files on citizens and weaponized them against anyone who stepped out of line. — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

And Iran has been able to rattle the global energy markets by closing the Strait of Hormuz, weaponizing a chokepoint that offers continuous leverage over the global economy. — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 30 July 2026

Most of the refugees from the region fended for themselves in shanty towns around Baku, despised by the urbanites even as their plight was weaponized. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for weaponize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies