militarize
verb
mil·i·ta·rize
ˈmi-lə-tə-ˌrīz 
militarized; militarizing
1
: to give a military character to
2
: to equip with military forces and defenses
3
: to adapt for military use
Examples of militarize in a Sentence
militarize a country's foreign policy
Recent Examples on the Web
Riley Robinson/Staff The Trump administration’s creation of national defense zones along the border may be an effort to sidestep the law and militarize the border, critics say.
—
Riley Robinson, Christian Science Monitor, 17 May 2025
As in the case of the once dominant United States and rapidly militarizing China, trade wars may be part of an overall competition for power and therefore as much an indicator of hostilities to come as a cause of them.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Systematic efforts were also made to militarize the Crimean population.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2025
Despite earlier assurances from Chinese President Xi Jinping that China would not militarize the reefs, some now feature airstrips, missile emplacements, ports, and other military infrastructure.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for militarize
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Riley Robinson, Christian Science Monitor, 17 May 2025
As in the case of the once dominant United States and rapidly militarizing China, trade wars may be part of an overall competition for power and therefore as much an indicator of hostilities to come as a cause of them.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Systematic efforts were also made to militarize the Crimean population.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2025
Despite earlier assurances from Chinese President Xi Jinping that China would not militarize the reefs, some now feature airstrips, missile emplacements, ports, and other military infrastructure.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for militarize
Cite this Entry
“Militarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/militarize. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
militarize
verb
mil·i·ta·rize
ˈmil-ə-tə-ˌrīz
militarized; militarizing
1
: to equip with military forces and defenses
2
: to give a military character to
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