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Synonyms

air strike

American  
Or airstrike

noun

  1. the bombing or strafing of a city, enemy force, etc., by military aircraft.

    The air strike devastated the enemy's submarine base.


Etymology

Origin of air strike

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

It also comes after Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, broke his silence for the first time as the country’s supreme leader since succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in an air strike.

From MarketWatch Mar. 13, 2026

An air strike hit a hotel in Hazmieh near Beirut on Wednesday, the first reported Israeli attack on the predominantly Christian area in Beirut's suburbs, near the presidential palace and several embassies.

From Barron's Mar. 4, 2026

In September, an Israeli air strike unsuccessfully targeted the exiled Hamas leadership as it met in Qatar, a regional mediator, to discuss a new ceasefire proposal presented by the US.

From BBC Dec. 21, 2025

Last week, an air strike hit a commercial vehicle near Zalingei in Central Darfur, damaging nearby UN vehicles.

From Barron's Nov. 19, 2025

A blockade was better than an immediate air strike, which could lead so quickly to all-out war.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

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