weaponize
verb
weap·on·ize
ˈwe-pə-ˌnīz 
weaponized; weaponizing
: to adapt for use as a weapon of war
Examples of weaponize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hoover had weaponized library science in the service of subduing the revolutionary threat.
—
Steven Johnson, New York Times, 17 May 2024
Kendrick is from California, where Tupac is like a god among rap fans, so weaponizing the West Coast rap legend's voice in the feud had some strategic value for Drake, who is from Toronto.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 May 2024
Game 3 was obvious proof that a tough enough team is capable of weaponizing its own home-court embarrassment.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 11 May 2024
Drake himself even weaponized Nicki Minaj’s stardom against Meek Mill.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
Through Title 42, part of a 1944 public health law that Trump weaponized during the COVID-19 pandemic to turn away asylum seekers.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024
The social media platform has faced growing scrutiny from some government officials over fears that user data could fall into the possession of the Chinese government and the app could be weaponized by China to spread misinformation.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 May 2024
Eight years ago, the Trump campaign used improperly obtained Facebook data to build voter profiles for 50 million users, and Russia weaponized Facebook to undermine the integrity of the U.S. elections.
—Peter Vanham, Fortune, 8 May 2024
Holden Triplett, a former F.B.I. counterintelligence official who led the bureau’s offices in China, said that Chinese citizens are more likely to have family ties to China that could be weaponized by state security agencies there.
—Patricia Mazzei, New York Times, 6 May 2024
Steven Johnson, New York Times, 17 May 2024
Kendrick is from California, where Tupac is like a god among rap fans, so weaponizing the West Coast rap legend's voice in the feud had some strategic value for Drake, who is from Toronto.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 May 2024
Game 3 was obvious proof that a tough enough team is capable of weaponizing its own home-court embarrassment.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 11 May 2024
Drake himself even weaponized Nicki Minaj’s stardom against Meek Mill.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
Through Title 42, part of a 1944 public health law that Trump weaponized during the COVID-19 pandemic to turn away asylum seekers.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024
The social media platform has faced growing scrutiny from some government officials over fears that user data could fall into the possession of the Chinese government and the app could be weaponized by China to spread misinformation.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 May 2024
Eight years ago, the Trump campaign used improperly obtained Facebook data to build voter profiles for 50 million users, and Russia weaponized Facebook to undermine the integrity of the U.S. elections.
—Peter Vanham, Fortune, 8 May 2024
Holden Triplett, a former F.B.I. counterintelligence official who led the bureau’s offices in China, said that Chinese citizens are more likely to have family ties to China that could be weaponized by state security agencies there.
—Patricia Mazzei, New York Times, 6 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'weaponize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Weaponize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weaponize. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
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