militarize
verb
mil·i·ta·rize
ˈmi-lə-tə-ˌrīz 
militarized; militarizing
1
: to give a military character to
2
: to equip with military forces and defenses
3
: to adapt for military use
Examples of militarize in a Sentence
militarize a country's foreign policy
Recent Examples on the Web
Assad’s particular brutality militarized Syria’s initially peaceful uprising, justifying an increasingly militant opposition to him.
—
Fawaz A. Gerges, Foreign Affairs, 27 Jan. 2025
In 1994, the Clinton administration implemented Operation Gatekeeper, a strategy that militarized many areas along the U.S.-Mexico border with surveillance technology and border security.
—Mariana Martínez Barba, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
In 2015, Chinese leader Xi Jinping stood next to Obama at the White House and publicly promised not to militarize the South China Sea.
—Bilahari Kausikan, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Maduro’s interior minister Diosdado Cabello, who has been accused in the U.S. of being a top leader of the Soles drug cartel, is currently in control of the country’s security apparatus and has issued orders to militarize Caracas ahead of the Jan 10 swearing-in ceremony.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for militarize 
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.
Fawaz A. Gerges, Foreign Affairs, 27 Jan. 2025
In 1994, the Clinton administration implemented Operation Gatekeeper, a strategy that militarized many areas along the U.S.-Mexico border with surveillance technology and border security.
—Mariana Martínez Barba, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
In 2015, Chinese leader Xi Jinping stood next to Obama at the White House and publicly promised not to militarize the South China Sea.
—Bilahari Kausikan, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Maduro’s interior minister Diosdado Cabello, who has been accused in the U.S. of being a top leader of the Soles drug cartel, is currently in control of the country’s security apparatus and has issued orders to militarize Caracas ahead of the Jan 10 swearing-in ceremony.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for militarize
Dictionary Entries Near militarize
Cite this Entry
“Militarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/militarize. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
militarize
verb
mil·i·ta·rize
ˈmil-ə-tə-ˌrīz
militarized; militarizing
1
: to equip with military forces and defenses
2
: to give a military character to
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share