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 is about all of us and about a justice system which has been weaponized, a justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Britain’s loyalist supporters, for instance, tried repeatedly to weaponize their fellow colonists’ reflexive fear of foreigners, spreading ugly rumors that French Catholic soldiers had orders to persecute American Protestants, claim their lands for King Louis, and ban the speaking of English.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
Lux weaponizes people’s impressions of Rosalía as an art-school culture vulture.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
In fact, the greater danger for Washington is that China, sensing US weakness, will start weaponizing its other industrial strengths.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for weaponize
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Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Britain’s loyalist supporters, for instance, tried repeatedly to weaponize their fellow colonists’ reflexive fear of foreigners, spreading ugly rumors that French Catholic soldiers had orders to persecute American Protestants, claim their lands for King Louis, and ban the speaking of English.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
Lux weaponizes people’s impressions of Rosalía as an art-school culture vulture.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
In fact, the greater danger for Washington is that China, sensing US weakness, will start weaponizing its other industrial strengths.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 6 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 13 Nov. 2025.
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