preemptive strike

noun

Military.

1. an attack against an enemy in response to an obvious threat of attack by that enemy: because preemptive strikes are prompted more by clearly imminent danger than by speculation, they generally are considered acceptable in international law.

preemptive strike

1. A first-strike attack with nuclear weapons carried out to destroy an enemy's capacity to respond. A preemptive strike is based on the assumption that the enemy is planning an imminent attack.

Word History and Origins

Origin of preemptive strike¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

A preemptive strike against North Korea would also do irreparable damage to the U.S.-South Korea alliance and would likely also invite responses from China and, more significantly, Russia.

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The president seemingly bought Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's explanation for his country's "preemptive" strike on nuclear sites and population centers, crowing on Truth Social on Monday that the attack was a result of Iran's nuclear ambitions.

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After several days of missile exchanges between Israel and Iran, Baier was critical of Netanyahu's assertion that his "preemptive strike" was necessary.

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Israeli government officials called the move a "preemptive strike" in an emergency message to citizens.

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"Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future," a message from Katz read.

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