projectile

noun

Definition of projectilenext
as in missile

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of projectile Detective Robert Karrol, a 20-year NYPD veteran and father of three, was struck in the back of his ballistic vest with a projectile from a stray shot, police sources said. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026 Police also emphasized the dangers of celebratory gunfire, reminding residents that any projectile fired into the air poses a significant risk of injury or death to innocent bystanders. — Bri Buckley, CBS News, 30 June 2026 The almost two-week-old truce has been under persistent strain, with the latest bout of attacks beginning after an Iranian projectile hit a cargo ship on Thursday, prompting strikes by the US, and then Tehran hitting Washington’s Gulf allies. — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 29 June 2026 Commercial shipping at center of tensions Britain's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said June 27 that a tanker reported being struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, sustaining damage to its bridge, though all crew members were reported safe. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for projectile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for projectile
  1. missile
  2. ammunition
  3. load
  4. shell
  5. cannonball
  6. slug
  7. cartridge
Noun
  • By late May, Iran had restarted drone production and was replacing missile sites and launchers destroyed earlier in the war, sources told CNN.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • And what does this mean for the ever-growing number of satellite constellations the US military relies upon for navigation, missile warning, communications, surveillance, and soon, tactical battlefield targeting?
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026
Definition of missile
Noun
  • State negotiators rejected the idea of allowing ranchers to use rubber bullets and other nonlethal ammunition because some can be confused for real bullets, Fisher said.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
  • During the Revolutionary War, General Washington worried that British troops were stockpiling weapons and ammunition in the fort and preparing to attack northern colonies.
    — Lane Degregory, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026
Definition of ammunition
Noun
  • It isn't meant to house a bed but simply to open up space above the 205 x 186-cm (81 x 73-in) master king bed, creating a more complete bedroom that gives sleepers loads of space to sit up comfortably.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 July 2026
  • This one has a lid to ensure no pile is ever seen, no matter how long it's been since your last load.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 15 July 2026
Definition of load
Noun
  • The look wasn’t far from the unrestricted version of their dish, which uses shells.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
  • During the search, BPD said officers found a ghost gun that contained one spent shell casing lodged in the chamber and was loaded with 16 live rounds in a large-capacity magazine.
    — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of shell
Noun
  • The first cannonball, discovered March 5, just before the 190th anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo, is made of solid bronze.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
  • Researchers were surprised to find the second cannonball, Lindley told Fox News Digital.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of cannonball
Noun
  • Disappearing leaves and leaves with large holes indicate a slug or snail problem in the garden.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 15 July 2026
  • My brain would like to know whether this journaling exercise comes with a CMS slug and a publish date.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 13 July 2026
Definition of slug
Noun
  • The rifle contained one spent cartridge casing and three unfired rounds, which were each engraved with messages, said Sergeant Jennifer Faumuina, an investigator with the State Bureau of Investigation called to testify by prosecutors.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • The handle comes with one original Athena Club cartridge, which has a skin guard to prevent nicks and a hyaluronic acid serum strip.
    — Sara Coughlin, Allure, 5 July 2026
Definition of cartridge

Browse Nearby Words

projected
projectile
projectiles
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Projectile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/projectile. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on projectile

Nglish: Translation of projectile for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about projectile

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All