TERRORISM Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

terrorism

noun

Definition of terrorism

as in terror

the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal They have been arrested for acts of terrorism. international terrorism the fight against terrorism

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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 terrorism Europol does not keep statistics on nihilistic violent extremism because definitions of it differ and acts can fall into the category of ordinary criminality as well as terrorism. — Lorne Cook, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026 The United States gave the jihadi cause new energy with its 2003 invasion of Iraq, a war justified in part by the need to confront terrorism. — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026 There will be a seventh bell-tolling this year, for the thousands who have since died by suicide, or from cancer and other illnesses caused by the ravages of terrorism. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026 Because the focus has to be not just on any one individual, the problem here is terrorism. — NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for terrorism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorism

Noun

But times have changed since the days when Wasim and Waqar Younis struck terror into the hearts of opposition lineups with the ferocity of their bowling, or Javed Miandad and Inzamam-ul-Haq made hay with the bat.

— James Wallace, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
State standards for high school world history classes also suggest discussing 9/11 and the war on terror.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of terror

Noun

Because colonial powers have always feared the child who survives its violence and continues to imagine a sky beyond its rule.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
North Carolina Democrats in the state’s House of Representatives cut all ties with one of their candidates running for the state legislature after her past social media posts about violence against Republicans came to light.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of violence

Noun

In some cases, even documentation of the state's excesses invites intimidation.

— Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Woman pleads not guilty to jury intimidation In a nearby courtroom, the impetus for the dramatic jury questions appeared in the same courthouse as the jury began its fifth day of deliberations.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of intimidation

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“Terrorism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorism. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of terrorism

noun

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