terrorism

[ter-uh-riz-uh m]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR terrorism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.

the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.

a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.

Nearby words

Origin of terrorism

First recorded in 1785–95; terror + -ism

Related formsan·ti·ter·ror·ism, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for terrorism

Terrorism is bad news anywhere, but especially rough on Odessa, where the city motto seems to be “make love, not war.”
Is Putin Turning to Terrorism in Ukraine?|Anna Nemtsova|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She is the author of Dirty Entanglements: Corruption, Crime and Terrorism (Cambridge University Press).
ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Growing Role of Human Trafficking in 21st Century Terrorism|Louise I. Shelley|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bush apologists, as always, are ready with excuses, like playing the Terrorism Card.
Assuming GOP Does Take the Senate, Dems Have Nothing to Fear|Veronique de Rugy|November 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Terrorism must be driven out and eradicated from the region.
Will Iran Sell Out Al Qaeda for Nukes?|Josh Rogin, Eli Lake|September 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Terrorism gives me an opportunity to put people through an emotional experience.
The War Inside: Terrorism & Teenhood in ‘No Dawn Without Darkness’|Hugh Ryan|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Terrorism and deception are weapons not of the strong but of the weak.
Freedom's Battle|Mahatma Gandhi
Terrorism is seen to be a relatively gentle procedure, useful to keep in a state of obedience the masses of the people.
Gems (?) of German Thought|Various
Terrorism tests aren't anywhere close to 99 percent accurate.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
Terrorism in ghastly forms is now a part of the German method of fighting the enemy.
A Journey Through France in War Time|Joseph G. Butler, Jr.
Terrorism is expedient in Russia and inexpedient in Germany and England.
Anarchism|Paul Eltzbacher

British Dictionary definitions for terrorism

terrorism

noun

systematic use of violence and intimidation to achieve some goal

the act of terrorizing

the state of being terrorized

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

Word Origin and History for terrorism

terrorism

1795, in specific sense of "government intimidation during the Reign of Terror in France" (March 1793-July 1794), from French terrorisme, from Latin terror (see terror).

If the basis of a popular government in peacetime is virtue, its basis in a time of revolution is virtue and terror -- virtue, without which terror would be barbaric; and terror, without which virtue would be impotent. [Robespierre, speech in French National Convention, 1794]

General sense of "systematic use of terror as a policy" is first recorded in English 1798. At one time, a word for a certain kind of mass-destruction terrorism was dynamitism (1883); and during World War I frightfulness (translating German Schrecklichkeit) was used in Britain for "deliberate policy of terrorizing enemy non-combatants."

Culture definitions for terrorism

terrorism

Acts of violence committed by groups that view themselves as victimized by some notable historical wrong. Although these groups have no formal connection with governments, they usually have the financial and moral backing of sympathetic governments. Typically, they stage unexpected attacks on civilian targets, including embassies and airliners, with the aim of sowing fear and confusion. Israel has been a frequent target of terrorism, but the United States has increasingly become its main target. (See also September 11 attacks, Osama bin Laden, Hezbollah, and Basque region.)