The missile attack took a heavy toll of lives.
Source: tatoeba (32290)
Missile
/ˈmɪs.aɪl/
Synonyms for "missile" (155 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (31)
Noun(2 words)
Strong matches (47)
Related words (77)
payloadpershingpetrelpolarisposeidonprojectilequailquoitramram rocketrascalredeyeredstoneregulus iretro-float lightretro-rocketrockrocketrockoonsaturn
Show 50 more words
scoutsentinelsergeantshillelaghshotsidewindersignal rocketskyboltskyrocketslamsmoke rocketsnakesnarksolid-fuel rocketspace rocketspaerobeesparrowspin-stabilized rocketspinnerstonesubrocsuper talossupersonic rockettalostartarterrierthermonuclear warheadthorthor able starthor-agenathor-deltathrow stickthrowing-sticktiny timtitantorpedotrajectiletrajectory missiletransoceanic rocketv-2verniervernier rocketvikingwac-corporalwaddywagtailwar rocketwarheadwindow rocketzuni
Noun(7 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: projectile, aa target rocket, abm, anchor rocket, antiaircraft rocket.
- Sentence evidence is available for missile, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "missile".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "missile"
Keep "missile" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "missile" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "missile", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "missile" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesMore specific
8 entriesair-to-air missileballistic missilecruise missileguided missilemissile-grade aluminummissile-grade compositesmissile-grade steelsurface-to-air missile
Collocations
11 entriesballistic missilecruise missileguided missilemissile defensemissile guidancemissile payloadmissile programmissile propulsionmissile systemmissile technologysurface to air missile
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
5 entriesSample sentences
14 total sentences available.
The Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
Source: tatoeba (632116)
Better to extend an olive branch than launch a missile.
Source: tatoeba (643267)
On September 20, 1951, a monkey named Yorick and 11 mice were recovered after an Aerobee missile flight of 236,000 feet at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Yorick got a fair amount of press as the first monkey to live through a space flight.
Source: tatoeba (3952197)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "missile"?
Closest matches include projectile, aa target rocket, abm, anchor rocket, antiaircraft rocket.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "missile"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.