weaponize

American  

[wep-uh-nahyz] / ˈwɛp əˌnaɪz /

verb (used with object)

weaponized, weaponizing

1. to supply or equip with a weapon or weapons.

   to weaponize trucks and helicopters.

2. to develop (a chemical, microorganism, etc.) for use as a weapon, as in biological warfare.

   to weaponize uranium;

   weaponized anthrax.

3. to use as a means to gain a powerful advantage.

   She has been known to weaponize her femininity.

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weaponize British  

/ ˈwɛpəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to adapt (a chemical, bacillus, etc) in such a way that it can be used as a weapon

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Other Word Forms

• weaponization noun

Etymology

Origin of weaponize

First recorded in 1955–60; weapon ( def. ) + -ize ( def. )

Explanation

To use something in order to deliberately inflict harm on people is to weaponize it. If you start pelting your brother with grapes, he might accuse you of weaponizing your fruit salad. When a group or government weaponizes something, they take an ordinary object and turn it into a weapon. This word was originally used during the Cold War as military jargon. When the U.S. Army added nuclear capabilities to rockets, preparing them for launching, they weaponized them. These days, it's common to describe everything from words to the internet as being weaponized — in fact, you can weaponize anything that can be used to attack someone else.

Example Sentences

As finance and supply chains have globalized, potential economic chokepoints have multiplied, as have efforts to weaponize them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

With more agentic capabilities comes an elevated threat landscape, as bad actors can now weaponize AI to launch attacks with unprecedented speed and magnitude.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 14, 2026

Today, Venezuela lacks the ability to disrupt global energy flows or weaponize supply in the way larger producers can.

From Barron's • Jan. 3, 2026

Even more concerning, when the nihilism of the darkest corners of the internet catches up to their psyches, “young people weaponize those grievances,” Newsom said — whether that anger turns inward or outward.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2025

One former official said he doubts that Iran would store enriched uranium and the machinery needed to weaponize the uranium in the same place.

From Slate • Jun. 26, 2025