What does "kamikaze" mean?
An attack requiring the suicide of the one carrying it out, especially when done with an aircraft.
Kamikaze
/ˌkɑː.mɪˈkɑː.ziː/ adj, noun, verb, slang
adj, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An attack requiring the suicide of the one carrying it out, especially when done with an aircraft.
- Grammar: kamikaze is listed as adj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: doomed, fatal, figurative use, foolhardy.
- Useful contrasts: careful approach, careful maneuver, cautious.
- Usage evidence: The only mystery in life is why the kamikaze pilots wore helmets.
How to use "kamikaze"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "kamikaze" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "kamikaze" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "kamikaze" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "kamikaze" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "kamikaze" is acting as adj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "doomed" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "kamikaze", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An attack requiring the suicide of the one carrying it out, especially when done with an aircraft. countable, uncountable
- 2 a fighter plane used for suicide missions by Japanese pilots in World War II wordnet
- 3 One who carries out a suicide attack, especially with an aircraft. countable
- 4 a pilot trained and willing to cause a suicidal crash wordnet
- 5 A vehicle used for a suicide attack, especially an aircraft. countable
"Coupled with this were issues involving actually getting enough torpedoes out there to the fleet in the first place! Whilst they were a munition, a torpedo is far more complex and took far longer to build than a shell for a naval gun, even a battleship shell. Torpedoes, remember, are effectively small self-guiding kamikaze submarines, and, so, unless you have a large factory and an extensive production line going, you're only gonna see handfuls produced each year."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 One who takes excessive risks, as for example in a sporting event. colloquial, countable
- 7 A cocktail made of equal parts vodka, triple sec and lime juice. countable
"Only top-shelf liquor is served, though Sasha refuses to serve drinks he deems fratlike. These include woo woos, kamikazes and shots of any kind."
- 8 A deliberate wipeout. countable
Verb
- 1 To destroy (a ship, etc.) in a suicide attack, especially by crashing an aircraft. transitive
- 2 To carry out a suicide attack, especially by crashing an aircraft. intransitive
- 3 To fail disastrously. intransitive, slang
Adjective
- 1 Suicidal, risking one's own life. not-comparable
"Sheathed in helmets, gloves, and jackets, they look more like manic video game figures than humans. They weave through traffic and around double-decker buses at kamikaze velocity."
- 2 Having or showing reckless disregard for safety or personal welfare. not-comparable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The only mystery in life is why the kamikaze pilots wore helmets."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "kamikaze"?
Common synonyms include: doomed, fatal, figurative use, foolhardy, hazardous, martyrdom strike.
How do you use "kamikaze" in a sentence?
The only mystery in life is why the kamikaze pilots wore helmets.
How do you pronounce "kamikaze"?
Pronounced /ˌkɑː.mɪˈkɑː.ziː/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese 神風(かみかぜ) (kamikaze, “divine wind”), from 神(かみ) (kami, “divine”) + 風(かぜ) (kaze, “wind”); which originally referred to the typhoon that destroyed the Mongol navy attacking Japan in 1281.