shock tactics

plural noun

: actions, images, stories, etc., that surprise and upset people
I don't think there's anything wrong with using shock tactics to discourage people from driving while drunk.

Examples of shock tactics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The day is remembered by several witness, but the documentary deftly avoids any predictable shock tactics. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2023 The late-June treeline battle may have defined the limits of the Ukrainian marine corps’ shock tactics. David Axe, Forbes, 16 July 2023 Like many rock stars before him, Healy is known for his on-stage shock tactics. Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 5 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shock tactics.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near shock tactics

Cite this Entry

“Shock tactics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shock%20tactics. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

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