weaponised

/ˈwep.ən.aɪz/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwep.ən.aɪz/ (ame, ipa)

weaponised — verb

  • weaponisedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • weaponiseds3rd person singular
  • weaponiseding-ing form
  • weaponisededpast simple

1. to develop or modify something such as bacteria, a virus, or a toxic substance s

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to develop or modify something such as bacteria, a virus, or a toxic substance so that it can be used as a weapon to cause widespread harm or death.

例句

International treaties forbid any country from weaponising deadly viruses or bacteria.

often passive: be weaponised by [entity]

The regime was accused of weaponising an agricultural chemical to poison the water supply.

同義詞
  • militarise

    broader — means to make something military in character, not necessarily turn it into a weapon

  • arm

    more general — to supply with weapons, not to convert a substance into one

反義詞
  • demilitarise

    the opposite process of removing military capability

文法句型

weaponise + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently used in passive constructions when describing who turned a substance into a weapon (e.g. 'Anthrax was weaponised by the programme'). Distinguish from sense 2, which is figurative and does not involve literal biological or chemical agents.

常見錯誤

❌The army weaponised bombs and guns.
✅The army weaponised a common fungus to attack crops.
💡'weaponise' means to turn something that is NOT normally a weapon into one; bombs and guns already are weapons.

2. to take something that is not normally a weapon — such as information, a politic

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to take something that is not normally a weapon — such as information, a political issue, or an everyday object — and use it to harm or pressure other people.

例句

Nia claimed that the security agency had weaponised the internet.

weaponise + [abstract entity] for attack

Stefan hoped to weaponise the issue of healthcare as part of his election campaign.

同義詞
  • exploit

    broader — can mean simply benefiting from something without the attacking intention

  • manipulate

    focuses on controlling a situation deceptively, not necessarily attacking

  • turn against

    phrasal verb with a similar meaning of using something to harm

反義詞
  • protect

    to shield rather than attack

  • defuse

    to reduce tension rather than escalate it

文法句型

weaponise + noun phrase

weaponise + noun phrase + for + purpose

用法筆記

Common in political and media commentary. The object is typically an abstract noun (a tragedy, an issue, a piece of data) rather than a physical substance. Distinguish from sense 1, which refers to literal biological or chemical agents.

常見錯誤

❌She weaponised a knife to defend herself.
✅She weaponised a personal secret to damage her rival's reputation.
💡'weaponise' is used for things not normally considered weapons; a knife is already a weapon.