1
: capable of being thrown or projected to strike a distant object
2
: adapted for throwing or hurling missiles
: an object (such as a weapon) thrown or projected usually so as to strike something at a distance
stones, artillery shells, bullets, and rockets are missiles
: such as
a
Examples of missile in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2023
Senior Israeli lawmakers have already called on Netanyahu to provide Ukraine with anti-drone and anti-missile systems.
—Tovah Lazaroff, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2023
Germany has already delivered the first of four Iris-T systems, and Ukraine has also received an Aspide anti-missile system from Spain.
—Anthony Capaccio, Bloomberg.com, 13 Dec. 2022
When China was unhappy with South Korea over its decision to deploy a U.S. anti-missile defense system several years ago, Beijing punished Seoul by curtailing culture exchanges between the two sides.
—Russell Flannery, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022
The Italian government has worked closely with France to transfer the SAMP-T air defense system to Ukraine, and the new aid package will also include the Skyguard anti-missile system and Aspide air defense missiles.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023
The 16,000-ton Zumwalt and her only two sister ships, Michael Monsoor and Lyndon B. Johnson, are presently the only surface warships slated to integrate the CPS missiles, carrying up to 12 of the 8-ton missiles in four multi-missile launch tubes.
—Sebastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 14 Feb. 2023
But an ally that won’t supply its friends with more Patriot anti-missile interceptors simply isn’t credible with these determined adversaries.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Dec. 2021
The spat will likely rekindle memories of China’s decision to dramatically scale back trade with South Korea in 2017 after then-President Moon Jae-in agreed to host a US anti-missile system.
—Time, 10 Jan. 2023
Rachel
pannett, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
There were no reports of drones or missiles launched from Iraq.
—USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
Almost all of the missiles and drones fired in Iran’s attack early on Sunday were intercepted by Israel and its allies, including the United States and Britain.
—Russell Goldman, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Following Iran's missile and drone attacks on Israel late Saturday night, several airlines are canceling flights to and from Tel Aviv, as well as rerouting planes scheduled to fly over the Middle East.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Apr. 2024
The Middle East was plunged into uncharted waters after Iran launched scores of missiles toward Israel late Saturday.
—Laura He, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
The widespread response comes despite Israel saying 99% of Iran's missiles and drones were intercepted.
—Peter Kenyon, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones toward Israel in an unprecedented attack Saturday, marking the first time in history Iran fired an attack on Israel from their own soil.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
The president has long resisted curbing the arms flow to influence Israel's approach to the war, with aides arguing that many of the munitions sent are air defense missiles.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Until recently, the U.S. had limited any training of Ukrainians on U.S. weapons systems to Europe and was reluctant to send Patriots to Ukraine – over concerns the advanced anti-missile system and training of Ukrainians on U.S. soil would be seen as escalatory by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2023
Senior Israeli lawmakers have already called on Netanyahu to provide Ukraine with anti-drone and anti-missile systems.
—Tovah Lazaroff, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2023
Germany has already delivered the first of four Iris-T systems, and Ukraine has also received an Aspide anti-missile system from Spain.
—Anthony Capaccio, Bloomberg.com, 13 Dec. 2022
When China was unhappy with South Korea over its decision to deploy a U.S. anti-missile defense system several years ago, Beijing punished Seoul by curtailing culture exchanges between the two sides.
—Russell Flannery, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022
The Italian government has worked closely with France to transfer the SAMP-T air defense system to Ukraine, and the new aid package will also include the Skyguard anti-missile system and Aspide air defense missiles.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023
The 16,000-ton Zumwalt and her only two sister ships, Michael Monsoor and Lyndon B. Johnson, are presently the only surface warships slated to integrate the CPS missiles, carrying up to 12 of the 8-ton missiles in four multi-missile launch tubes.
—Sebastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 14 Feb. 2023
But an ally that won’t supply its friends with more Patriot anti-missile interceptors simply isn’t credible with these determined adversaries.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Dec. 2021
The spat will likely rekindle memories of China’s decision to dramatically scale back trade with South Korea in 2017 after then-President Moon Jae-in agreed to host a US anti-missile system.
—Time, 10 Jan. 2023
Noun
Israel’s war cabinet has been discussing a counterattack after Iran’s drone and missile barrage.
—Rachel
pannett, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
There were no reports of drones or missiles launched from Iraq.
—USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
Almost all of the missiles and drones fired in Iran’s attack early on Sunday were intercepted by Israel and its allies, including the United States and Britain.
—Russell Goldman, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Following Iran's missile and drone attacks on Israel late Saturday night, several airlines are canceling flights to and from Tel Aviv, as well as rerouting planes scheduled to fly over the Middle East.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Apr. 2024
The Middle East was plunged into uncharted waters after Iran launched scores of missiles toward Israel late Saturday.
—Laura He, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
The widespread response comes despite Israel saying 99% of Iran's missiles and drones were intercepted.
—Peter Kenyon, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones toward Israel in an unprecedented attack Saturday, marking the first time in history Iran fired an attack on Israel from their own soil.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
The president has long resisted curbing the arms flow to influence Israel's approach to the war, with aides arguing that many of the munitions sent are air defense missiles.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'missile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near missile
Cite this Entry
“Missile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/missile. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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