Synonyms of missilenext
1
: capable of being thrown or projected to strike a distant object
2
: adapted for throwing or hurling missiles

missile

2 of 2

noun

: 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

Examples of missile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Equipped with the new multi-missile launcher, the TRV-150 was tested by the US Office of the Under Secretary for Research & Engineering at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. — New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026 Recent months have seen an expansion of Russian missile attacks all across Ukraine, as officials in Kyiv warn that Ukrainian stocks of anti-missile interceptor munitions are dangerously low and, in some cases, exhausted. — David Brennan, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
The Ukrainian leader had accused the Pentagon of delaying the delivery of the missiles that other countries have purchased for Ukraine. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026 To mark the event, KCNA said North Korea tested various drones, missiles and 600 mm-caliber ultraprecision multiple rocket launchers. — Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for missile

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin missilis, from mittere to throw, send

First Known Use

Adjective

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of missile was in 1610

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Missile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/missile. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

missile

noun
mis·​sile
ˈmis-əl
: an object (as a stone, arrow, artillery shell, bullet, or rocket) that is thrown, shot, or launched usually so as to strike something at a distance
Etymology

Noun

from Latin missile "a weapon that is thrown or shot rather than held in the hand," derived from missus, past participle of mittere "to send, throw" — related to emit

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