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military action

/ˌmɪləˈtɛri ˌækʃən/

Other forms: military actions

Definitions of military action
  1. noun
    a military engagement
    synonyms: action
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    amphibious landing
    a military action of coordinated land, sea, and air forces organized for an invasion
    battle, conflict, engagement, fight
    a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
    blockade, encirclement
    a war measure that isolates some area of importance to the enemy
    defence, defense, defensive measure
    (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
    EW, electronic warfare
    military action involving the use of electromagnetic energy to determine or exploit or reduce or prevent hostile use of the electromagnetic spectrum
    police action
    a local military action without declaration of war; against violators of international peace and order
    resistance
    the military action of resisting the enemy's advance
    saber rattling, sabre rattling
    the ostentatious display of military power (with the implied threat that it might be used)
    sally, sortie
    a military action in which besieged troops burst forth from their position
    war, warfare
    the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
    umbrella
    a formation of military planes maintained over ground operations or targets
    limited war
    a war whose objective is less than the unconditional defeat of the enemy
    psychological warfare, war of nerves
    the use of psychological tactics to destroy the opponents' morale
    Armageddon
    any catastrophically destructive battle
    pitched battle
    a fierce battle fought in close combat between troops in predetermined positions at a chosen time and place
    naval battle
    a pitched battle between naval fleets
    air defense
    defensive measures designed to destroy attacking enemy aircraft or missiles or to nullify their effectiveness
    stand
    a defensive effort
    hasty defence, hasty defense
    a defense organized while in contact with the enemy or when time is limited
    deliberate defence, deliberate defense
    a defense organized before contact is made with the enemy and while time for organization is available; usually includes a fortified zone (with pillboxes) and communication systems
    biodefence, biodefense, biological defence, biological defense
    procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using biological agents
    chemical defence, chemical defense
    procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using chemical agents
    minelaying, mining
    laying explosive mines in concealed places to destroy enemy personnel and equipment
    civil war
    a war between factions in the same country
    armed combat, combat
    an engagement fought between two military forces
    chemical operations, chemical warfare
    warfare using chemical agents to kill or injure or incapacitate the enemy
    BW, bioattack, biologic attack, biological attack, biological warfare
    the use of bacteria or viruses or toxins to destroy men and animals or food
    BW defence, BW defense, biological warfare defence, biological warfare defense
    defense against biological warfare
    dogfight
    an aerial engagement between fighter planes
    assault
    close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
    ECM, electronic countermeasures
    electronic warfare undertaken to prevent or reduce an enemy's effective use of the electromagnetic spectrum
    ECCM, electronic counter-countermeasures
    electronic warfare undertaken to insure effective friendly use of the electromagnetic spectrum in spite of the enemy's use of electronic warfare
    ESM, electronic warfare-support measures
    electronic warfare undertaken under direct control of an operational commander to locate sources of radiated electromagnetic energy for the purpose of immediate threat recognition
    electromagnetic intrusion
    the deliberate insertion of electromagnetic energy into transmission paths with the objective of confusing or deceiving operators
    IW, information warfare
    the use of information or information technology during a time of crisis or conflict to achieve or promote specific objectives over a specific adversary or adversaries
    international jihad, jehad, jihad
    a holy war waged by Muslims against infidels
    world war
    a war in which the major nations of the world are involved
    naval blockade
    the interdiction of a nation's lines of communication at sea by the use of naval power
    beleaguering, besieging, military blockade, siege
    the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
    hot war
    actual fighting between the warring parties
    total war
    military conflict with no restrictions on targets, weapons, or use of military or civilian resources
    type of:
    group action
    action taken by a group of people
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