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Synonyms

police action

American  

noun

  1. a relatively localized military action undertaken by regular armed forces, without a formal declaration of war, against guerrillas, insurgents, or other forces held to be violating international peace and order.


Etymology

Origin of police action

First recorded in 1880–85

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:

Opposition parties and sections of civil society rallied behind the protesters, while images of police action circulated widely online.

From Barron's Jul. 29, 2026

The government has also agreed not to pursue police action against protesters, the Cockroach Janta Party said in a social-media post.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 25, 2026

Undeterred by the police action and intimidation, the CJP has vowed to press ahead until their demands are met.

From Barron's Jul. 22, 2026

Either way, these algorithmic thresholds are often invisible to the public and are set quietly by vendors or agencies, even though they shape when police action begins.

From Salon May 12, 2026

Let me describe this stereotyped situation: A crime wave is sweeping a city and citizens are clamoring for police action.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

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