psychological warfare

noun

: things that are done to make someone (such as an enemy or opponent) become less confident or to feel hopeless, afraid, etc.
The army used radio broadcasts into enemy territory as a form of psychological warfare.

Examples of psychological warfare in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The two Koreas have engaged in psychological warfare since the 1960s, with weapons like huge billboard screens, loudspeakers installed along the border, and airdropping propaganda leaflets. Se Eun Gong, NPR, 18 June 2025 The psychological warfare intensifies as contestants battle not just the challenges but each other, with only one ultimate winner claiming the entire cash prize. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025 What to Know Condemning Western criticism of Iran's military development as hypocritical, Khamenei stressed the importance of both physical and psychological warfare, according to state media. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025 In post-election Venezuela, where dissent is silenced with steel prison bars, torture and psychological warfare, even the absence of a phone call or a family visit has become a deliberate tool of torment. Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for psychological warfare

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Psychological warfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychological%20warfare. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!