ballistic missile
noun
plural ballistic missiles
: a usually rocket-powered missile that is launched in a high arc under guidance for its ascent but that is unpowered and unguided once it begins its descent compare cruise missile, guided missile
Examples of ballistic missile in a Sentence
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Retaining the same overall specs as the boomers, the SSGNs carry Tomahawk cruise missiles instead of the Trident ballistic missiles.
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Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2025
In 1991: President George H.W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START I, to reduce and limit the stockpiling of strategic nuclear weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles and heavy bombers.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Haley Wilson/U.S. Navy The submarine—one of four in its class converted from carrying nuclear ballistic missiles to 1,000-mile-range conventional land-attack missiles—can also accommodate up to 66 special operations personnel.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025
The clash escalated as Israel bombed Iranian oil and gas infrastructure; Iran, in turn, launched hundreds more ballistic missiles at Israeli cities that resulted in at least 400 civilian casualties.
—Carter Malkasian, Foreign Affairs, 17 July 2025
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Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2025
In 1991: President George H.W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START I, to reduce and limit the stockpiling of strategic nuclear weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles and heavy bombers.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Haley Wilson/U.S. Navy The submarine—one of four in its class converted from carrying nuclear ballistic missiles to 1,000-mile-range conventional land-attack missiles—can also accommodate up to 66 special operations personnel.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025
The clash escalated as Israel bombed Iranian oil and gas infrastructure; Iran, in turn, launched hundreds more ballistic missiles at Israeli cities that resulted in at least 400 civilian casualties.
—Carter Malkasian, Foreign Affairs, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballistic missile
Cite this Entry
“Ballistic missile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballistic%20missile. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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