What does "missile" mean?
Any object used as a weapon by being thrown or fired through the air, such as stone, arrow or bullet.
Missile
/ˈmɪs.aɪl/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any object used as a weapon by being thrown or fired through the air, such as stone, arrow or bullet.
- Grammar: missile is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: projectile, aa target rocket, abm, anchor rocket.
- Useful contrasts: nonmissile, nonmissile-grade, nonmissile-specific.
- Usage evidence: The missile attack took a heavy toll of lives.
How to use "missile"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "missile" 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 "missile" 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 "missile" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "missile" 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 "missile" is acting as noun 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 "projectile" 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 "missile", 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 Any object used as a weapon by being thrown or fired through the air, such as stone, arrow or bullet.
"The Rhodians, who used leaden bullets, were able to project their missiles twice as far as the Persian slingers, who used large stones."
- 2 a rocket carrying a warhead of conventional or nuclear explosives; may be ballistic or directed by remote control wordnet
- 3 A self-propelled projectile whose trajectory can be adjusted after it is launched.
"That missile is explosive enough to kill hundreds."
- 4 a weapon that is forcibly thrown or projected at a targets but is not self-propelled wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The missile attack took a heavy toll of lives."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "missile"?
Common synonyms include: projectile, aa target rocket, abm, anchor rocket, antiaircraft rocket, antiradar rocket.
How do you use "missile" in a sentence?
The missile attack took a heavy toll of lives.
How do you pronounce "missile"?
Pronounced /ˈmɪs.aɪl/.
Etymology
From Latin missile (“thrown weapon, projectile”), neuter of missilis (“throwable, capable of being thrown”), from mittere (“to send”). From 1611. Compare Middle French missile (“projectile”), from 1636.