weaponize
verb
weap·on·ize
ˈwe-pə-ˌnīz 
weaponized; weaponizing
: to adapt for use as a weapon of war
—often used figuratively
… the ways people weaponize fear in order to hide their own.—
Justin Chang
Justin ChangExamples of weaponize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
President Xi Jinping was the only foreign leader that stood up to Trump on trade and forced him to back down by weaponizing Beijing’s control of rare earth materials.
—Shuli Ren, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
President Xi Jinping was the only foreign leader who stood up to Trump’s bullying tactics on trade and forced him to back down by weaponizing Beijing’s control of rare earth materials.
—Shuli Ren, Twin Cities, 30 Dec. 2025
The Christmas photos of the Chinese civilian-looking cargo ship that appears to be weaponized are real.
—New Atlas, 28 Dec. 2025
Along the way, all of them continue to use self-help buzzwords and weaponized therapy speak to justify being terrible people.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for weaponize
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Shuli Ren, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
President Xi Jinping was the only foreign leader who stood up to Trump’s bullying tactics on trade and forced him to back down by weaponizing Beijing’s control of rare earth materials.
—Shuli Ren, Twin Cities, 30 Dec. 2025
The Christmas photos of the Chinese civilian-looking cargo ship that appears to be weaponized are real.
—New Atlas, 28 Dec. 2025
Along the way, all of them continue to use self-help buzzwords and weaponized therapy speak to justify being terrible people.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for weaponize
Cite this Entry
“Weaponize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weaponize. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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