cyber warfare

noun

variants or less commonly cyberwarfare
: the use of cyberattacks by a nation, organization, etc. to weaken or destroy another
… three days of speeches and panel discussions left no category of threat unaddressed. Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, terror attacks, cyber warfare, chemical leaks, train derailments, wildfires, floods, and nuclear meltdowns were all considered.Matthew Power
… the Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have been the object of various threats from Russia, including economic sanctions and disruptive cyberwarfare.Zbigniew Brzezinski

Examples of cyber warfare in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Poland is also closely studying the use of AI on Ukrainian battlefields, including geospatial intelligence solutions, unmanned systems, and cyber warfare, seeking to draw lessons to safeguard its security and counter Russian hybrid attacks. Lidia Kurasinska, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024 Contact me to discuss big tech, AI and how the nation is confronting the threat of cyber warfare. ProPublica, 7 Nov. 2024 Rather, the goal of most cyber warfare is instead probing an adversary’s systems to cause a disruption when it’s needed, said Craig Shue, who chairs the computer science department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024 In addition to terrorism and nuclear threats, the world should now worry about cyber warfare and the militarization of outer space. Kaveh Madani, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024 Russian hackers have targeted small municipalities and ports with phishing scams, ransomware, and other forms of cyber warfare, and individuals travelling as tourists have been caught photographing sensitive defense and communications infrastructure. Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024 Coursework topics include cyber warfare and cybersecurity policy and its legal and ethical dimensions. Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2024 Israel has focused intensely on its technological advantages over its enemies, assigning large numbers of personnel to electronic and cyber warfare units. Haleigh Bartos, The Conversation, 7 Dec. 2023 Importantly, this situation is vastly different from utilizing hacking or other forms of cyber warfare to directly attack opponents or infrastructure. Joan Donovan, TIME, 13 Oct. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cyber warfare was in 1994

Dictionary Entries Near cyber warfare

Cite this Entry

“Cyber warfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyber%20warfare. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

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