terrorism
the unlawful use of violence or threats to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or government, with the goal of furthering political, social, or ideological objectives.
the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism.
a terrorist method of governing or of resisting a government.
intimidation or coercion by instilling fear: For many children, terrorism at school is a fact of life, even with antibullying policies in place.
Origin of terrorism
1usage note For terrorism
Other words from terrorism
- an·ti·ter·ror·ism, adjective
- See also domestic terrorism.
Words Nearby terrorism
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use terrorism in a sentence
This is a report that analyzes the terrorism threat to the US homeland, how dangerous each of the various threats really is, and what — if anything — can be done to mitigate them.
Meanwhile, authorities are using terrorism charges to target political opponents.
FEMA is part of the Homeland Security Department, so preparation for terrorism threats is also part of its job.
FEMA spends more preparing for terrorism than hurricanes | Rachel Schallom | August 27, 2020 | FortuneHong Kong’s new security law, which increases Beijing’s control of the city, defines pro-democracy protests as terrorism, severely limits free speech, and reduces much of the autonomy that the city once had from China.
Israeli phone hacking company faces court fight over sales to Hong Kong | Patrick O'Neill | August 25, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewThird, it fuels continuing instability in North Africa, which remains a hotbed of international terrorism.
terrorism is bad news anywhere, but especially rough on Odessa, where the city motto seems to be “make love, not war.”
She is the author of Dirty Entanglements: Corruption, Crime and terrorism (Cambridge University Press).
ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Growing Role of Human Trafficking in 21st Century Terrorism | Louise I. Shelley | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBush apologists, as always, are ready with excuses, like playing the terrorism Card.
Assuming GOP Does Take the Senate, Dems Have Nothing to Fear | Veronique de Rugy | November 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTterrorism must be driven out and eradicated from the region.
Will Iran Sell Out Al Qaeda for Nukes? | Josh Rogin, Eli Lake | September 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBucca subsequently became the sole FDNY member of the Joint terrorism Task Force.
The Flying New York Fireman Who Shined on 9/11 | Michael Daly | September 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTterrorism is expedient in Russia and inexpedient in Germany and England.
Anarchism | Paul Eltzbacherterrorism tests aren't anywhere close to 99 percent accurate.
Little Brother | Cory Doctorowterrorism is seen to be a relatively gentle procedure, useful to keep in a state of obedience the masses of the people.
Gems (?) of German Thought | Variousterrorism in ghastly forms is now a part of the German method of fighting the enemy.
A Journey Through France in War Time | Joseph G. Butler, Jr.terrorism and deception are weapons not of the strong but of the weak.
Freedom's Battle | Mahatma Gandhi
British Dictionary definitions for terrorism
/ (ˈtɛrəˌrɪzəm) /
systematic use of violence and intimidation to achieve some goal
the act of terrorizing
the state of being terrorized
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for terrorism
Acts of violence committed by groups that view themselves as victimized by some notable historical wrong. Although these groups have no formal connection with governments, they usually have the financial and moral backing of sympathetic governments. Typically, they stage unexpected attacks on civilian targets, including embassies and airliners, with the aim of sowing fear and confusion. Israel has been a frequent target of terrorism, but the United States has increasingly become its main target. (See also September 11 attacks, Osama bin Laden, Hezbollah, and Basque region.)
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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