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 decent man across the aisle, who chose not to weaponize someone else’s private struggle for a political win. —Carl Kurlander, Deadline, 13 June 2026

Federal audits would, instead of protecting elections, allow a conspiracy theory to be weaponized into a way to keep legal voters from casting their ballot. —Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

Tellingly, the company didn’t refute any of the claims made in Republik‘s reporting, but rather weaponized a Swiss legal statute alleging the magazine didn’t give the company’s response enough space. —Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 11 June 2026

Steyer ran as the ultimate embodiment of the long-running strategy promoted by the Rockefeller family and fellow billionaire interests to weaponize courts, legislatures, and public opinion against American oil and gas producers. —David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 11 June 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