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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Recent Examples of terrorism
He was also indicted on two terrorism charges in New York, but those were dismissed in September 2025.
—
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
In what would be a long-term fix to control domestic terrorism, Balboni noted that Congress could pass a law against terrorism that includes domestic enemies separately from the anti-terror law in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
—Peter D'abrosca , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2025
On New Year’s Day, two former Fort Bragg soldiers whose tours in Afghanistan had overlapped committed separate but nearly simultaneous acts of domestic terrorism.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
For example, a politically motivated shooting might be coded as terrorism in federal reporting, cataloged as political violence by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, and prosecuted as a homicide or a hate crime at the state level.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrorism
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
In what would be a long-term fix to control domestic terrorism, Balboni noted that Congress could pass a law against terrorism that includes domestic enemies separately from the anti-terror law in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
—Peter D'abrosca , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2025
On New Year’s Day, two former Fort Bragg soldiers whose tours in Afghanistan had overlapped committed separate but nearly simultaneous acts of domestic terrorism.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
For example, a politically motivated shooting might be coded as terrorism in federal reporting, cataloged as political violence by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, and prosecuted as a homicide or a hate crime at the state level.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrorism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorism
Noun
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Swift canceled three shows in Vienna, Austria, while on the European leg of the Eras Tour in August 2024 after authorities discovered a planned terror attack targeting her concerts.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
20 Sep. 2025
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Maduro is the head of the Cartel de los Soles, a narco-terror organization which has taken possession of a country.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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America has seen numerous acts of politically motivated violence over the past year.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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Antle says while there has definitely been violence on both sides, Democrats have greater ability to reach the types of people who are posting the violent rhetoric on social media.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These intimidation tactics were heavily deployed during different waves of racial justice riots throughout American history, such as the uprisings over Rodney King’s beating in 1991 and George Floyd’s death in 2020.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Sep. 2025
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When words lose their original meanings and are repurposed as verbal cudgels, the public sphere becomes a jungle of denunciation, intimidation, and even violence.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrorism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorism. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.
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