ROTARY-WING AIRCRAFT Synonyms: 14 Similar Words

rotary-wing aircraft

noun

as in rotorcraft

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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 rotary-wing aircraft New long-range helicopter munition The LRAM effort aims to give Marine rotary-wing aircraft the ability to strike targets at far greater distances than current weapons allow. — Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025 Byrne said that a fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft could operate as a drone to a larger, passively buoyant platform. — Leonard David, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2025 Cal Fire has the largest civil aerial firefighting fleet in the world, including more than 60 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. — Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2023 The centerpiece is a rotary-wing aircraft simulator/mock-up with a digital backbone architecture that allows plug and play flexibility for different capabilities and systems integration combinations. — Eric Tegler, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2021

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotary-wing aircraft

Noun

The company believes autonomous VTOL aircraft could offer a lower-cost alternative to conventional rotorcraft for many of these missions while reducing human exposure to operational risks.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 2026
However, in a world where even attack helicopters face the increasing threat of drones and sophisticated air defenses, the Loyal Wingman concept is expanding to include rotorcraft.

— David Szondy July 21, New Atlas, 21 July 2026

Definition of rotorcraft

Noun

The expenditure of those munitions goes along with other losses of materiel, including fighter jets, airborne early warning and reconnaissance planes, helicopters and drones.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
The search teams from across counties, the city and the state used helicopters, boats, sonar, drones and cadaver dogs to search a nine-mile stretch of the river.

— Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of helicopter

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rotary

rotary-wing aircraft

rotary-wing aircrafts

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“Rotary-wing aircraft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotary-wing%20aircraft. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of rotary-wing aircraft

noun

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