asymmetric warfare

American  

Or asymmetrical warfare

noun

1. warfare in which opposing groups or nations have unequal military resources, and the weaker opponent uses unconventional weapons and tactics, as terrorism, to exploit the vulnerabilities of the enemy.

---

Etymology

Origin of asymmetric warfare

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

And Iranian strides in drone-making capabilities have boosted the country’s ability to wage asymmetric warfare.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

Taiwan has responded to the growing pressure by increasing defence spending on smaller and more nimble weaponry to enable its military to wage asymmetric warfare against more powerful Chinese forces.

From Barron's • Jan. 1, 2026

Belligerents need to win the media battle in an age of asymmetric warfare where victory or defeat can rely on perceptions as much as the realities of battle.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2024

The U.S. has been pushing Taiwan to develop asymmetric warfare strategies by investing in smaller and lighter weapons such as the reduced-size submarine.

From Washington Times • Sep. 28, 2023

But its completion marks an important milestone in Taiwan’s strategy of adopting asymmetric warfare.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 27, 2023