militarize

[mil-i-tuh-rahyz]

See more synonyms for militarize on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), mil·i·ta·rized, mil·i·ta·riz·ing.

to equip with armed forces, military supplies, or the like.
to make military.
to imbue with militarism.

Also especially British, mil·i·ta·rise.

Origin of militarize

First recorded in 1875–80; militar(y) + -ize

Related formsmil·i·ta·ri·za·tion, nounre·mil·i·ta·ri·za·tion, nounre·mil·i·ta·rize, verb (used with object), re·mil·i·ta·rized, re·mil·i·ta·riz·ing.un·mil·i·ta·rized, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for militarize

impel, activate, propel, prepare, muster, gather, actuate, drive, rally, assemble, organize, equip, ready, mobilize, animate, marshal, circulate, catalyze

Examples from the Web for militarize

Contemporary Examples of militarize

Some leftists see the war as a U.S.-backed pretense to militarize Mexico and stifle activism.
2012 Will Be a Decisive Year in Mexico’s Deadly Drug War
Larry Kaplow
January 3, 2012

British Dictionary definitions for militarize

militarize

militarise

verb (tr)

to convert to military use
to imbue with militarism

Derived Formsmilitarization or militarisation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012