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• scorched-earth policy
  scorched-earth policy

  noun

  a military practice of devastating the property and agriculture of an area before abandoning it to an advancing enemy.
• scorched earth policy
  scorched earth policy

  noun

  the policy in warfare of removing or destroying everything that might be useful to an invading enemy, esp by fire

scorched-earth policy

American  

[skawrcht-urth] / ˈskɔrtʃtˈɜrθ /

noun

1. a military practice of devastating the property and agriculture of an area before abandoning it to an advancing enemy.

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scorched earth policy British  

noun

1. the policy in warfare of removing or destroying everything that might be useful to an invading enemy, esp by fire

2. commerce a manoeuvre by a company expecting an unwelcome takeover bid in which apparent profitability is greatly reduced by a reversible operation, such as borrowing at an exorbitant interest rate

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Etymology

Origin of scorched-earth policy

1935–40; apparently translation of Chinese jiāotǔ zhèngcè

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scorched-earth policy scorched earth policy

March organizers made him tone down his speech, removing a provocative vow to “pursue our own scorched-earth policy and burn Jim Crow to the ground — nonviolently.”

From Washington Post ● Jul. 19, 2020

It follows a similar psychological scorched-earth policy, albeit in a more abstract, cerebral key.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2015

Their colour and flamboyance was an antidote to the scorched-earth policy of punk, and it set the tone for the rest of the '80s.

From BBC ● Feb. 13, 2015

On the eve of the publication of his second novel, he effects a scorched-earth policy — sometimes appallingly funny, sometimes just dreadful — toward almost everyone in his life.

From New York Times ● Jan. 23, 2014

On this retreat, the Russians practiced a scorched-earth policy.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2012

During hearings last month in the court, lawyers for Nexperia accused Wingtech of a "scorched earth" policy in its bid to wrest control of the company.

From Barron's ● Feb. 11, 2026

It was one of Amorim's more rational statements in a week when he seemed to be adopting a scorched earth policy such is the rollercoaster his emotional state has been.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2025

“Barring that kind of scorched earth policy, harvest thresholds to preserve social stability within the cougar population are the more responsible and scientifically defensible solution.”

From Salon ● Mar. 9, 2014

ThomsonLord mayor of Newcastle, 2000-2001 • Nobody is arguing that the arts should be sacrosanct, but a scorched earth policy seems the worst possible outcome.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 21, 2012

At $499 though, Apple pursued a scorched earth policy in tablets. 

From Forbes ● Apr. 12, 2011