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air raid
noun
: an attack by armed airplanes on a surface target
—usually hyphenated when used attributively
air-raid shelter
Examples of air raid in a Sentence
Much of the city was destroyed in an air raid.
Recent Examples on the Web
In July 1944, however, the building was completely burnt out during an allied air raid, destroying a large part of the collection, including all of the fossils from the Egyptian expedition—their only traces left in Stromer's records, illustrations of the bones and a precious few photographs.
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Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Iran has experienced a series of setbacks, including an Israeli air raid against Tehran’s air defenses and the defeat by Israel of Iran’s main ally in Lebanon, Hezbollah.
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Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
When air raid sirens wail and missiles descend on Ukrainian cities, people flock to Telegram groups for real-time updates.
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The New York Times News Service Syndicate, The Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2025
Nasrallah, who headed Hezbollah for the past three decades, was killed in an Israeli air raid that leveled six apartment buildings in Beirut on Sept. 27.
—
Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 30 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1909, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near air raid
Cite this Entry
“Air raid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20raid. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
air raid
noun
: an attack by armed airplanes on a surface target
More from Merriam-Webster on air raid
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for air raid
Britannica English: Translation of air raid for Arabic Speakers
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