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

Combs has both utilized and weaponized his fortune, industry status, and reputation to hide a volatile temper and disturbing behavior for decades. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

One is malevolent humans weaponizing AI to do terrible things. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026

But, politics aside, Bezmozgis set about to study in the best cinematic way possible how personal betrayals can be weaponized by political ideologies. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026

The agreement has raised concerns around the proliferation of technologies that could support a Saudi effort to weaponize nuclear energy, security experts and members of Congress have said. — Chris Boccia, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for weaponize

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