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.
The Middle East remains one of the world's most volatile regions, with Iran and Israel engaged in a prolonged proxy conflict that includes cyber warfare, covert operations, and targeted strikes. Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025 Increasingly, in an age of cyber warfare, there’s also the potential danger of GPS jamming or spoofing around combat zones — with satellite navigation systems at risk of being tricked into showing false locations. Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 21 June 2025 John Hultquist, chief analyst at Google’s Threat Intelligence Group, wrote on LinkedIn over the weekend that Iran’s main focus for its cyber warfare is psychological. Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 Iranian hackers have escalated cyberattacks on key Israeli infrastructure—such as water and energy systems—highlighting an increasing emphasis on cyber warfare as a primary tool of retaliation. Matthew Tostevin amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025 Iranian hackers have also intensified cyberattacks on Israel's critical infrastructure, such as water and energy systems, signaling a growing focus on cyber warfare as a key method of retaliation. Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025 Hypersonic missiles and drones could also prove to be game changers, as could cyber warfare. David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025 While Black Bag offers a stylish, escapist take on the world of intelligence, its themes feel eerily relevant in an era of cyber warfare and global instability. Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 Governments, corporations and individuals seeking cyber muscle can tap into a growing ecosystem of mercenary hackers offering services ranging from penetration testing and network security assessments to corporate espionage and cyber warfare. Emil Sayegh, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“Cyber warfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyber%20warfare. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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