war machine
Nation's fighting force
A war machine is the military apparatus of a nation—its armed forces, weapons systems, defense industry, and supporting infrastructure considered as a unified engine of warfare: The country's war machine mobilized within weeks.
The term often carries a critical or ominous tone, emphasizing the impersonal, mechanized nature of modern military power.
Figuratively, war machine describes any relentlessly aggressive force: The team's war machine steamrolled through the playoffs.
Large storage vessel
- fighter jetArmed military aircraft
- submarineUnderwater naval craft
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
- droneUnmanned flying machine
battleship · carrier · torpedo · artillery · bomber · armored vehicle · gunship · helicopter
Organized land-based military
- battalionMid-sized military unit
- regimentColonel-led military unit
- infantryGround combat troops
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
cavalry · platoon · squadron · brigade · corps · division · marines · navy
Armed hostile engagement
- battlefieldCombat engagement area
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
clash · frontline · campaign · battle · siege · assault · offensive · insurgency
Methods to achieve goals
- logisticsCoordination of complex activities
- strategyPlanned approach to goals
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
maneuver · siege · blockade · invasion · occupation · reconnaissance · intelligence · propaganda
Superior influence over others
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- supremacyHighest rank or power
- empireDomain under unified control
- superpowerDominant nation or magical ability
imperialism · conquest · subjugation · occupation · colonialism · control · authority · sovereignty
Severe widespread destruction
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- carnageWidespread violent death
- ruinsDecayed structural remains
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
collateral damage · scorched earth · bombardment · shelling · firebombing · obliteration · wreckage · aftermath
tank
Large storage vessel
- fighter jetArmed military aircraft
- submarineUnderwater naval craft
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
drone · battleship · carrier · torpedo · artillery · bomber · armored vehicle · gunship · helicopter · stealth
army
Organized land-based military
artillery · cavalry · platoon · squadron · brigade · corps · division · marines · navy · air force
combat
Armed hostile engagement
- battlefieldCombat engagement area
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
skirmish · clash · frontline · campaign · battle · siege · assault · offensive · insurgency · uprising
tactics
Methods to achieve goals
- logisticsCoordination of complex activities
- strategyPlanned approach to goals
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
defensive · maneuver · siege · blockade · invasion · occupation · reconnaissance · intelligence · propaganda · attrition
dominance
Superior influence over others
superpower · imperialism · conquest · subjugation · occupation · colonialism · control · authority · sovereignty · expansionism
devastation
Severe widespread destruction
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- carnageWidespread violent death
- ruinsDecayed structural remains
casualties · collateral damage · scorched earth · bombardment · shelling · firebombing · obliteration · wreckage · aftermath · desolation
- defense industrydefense contractors, defense spending, defense production, defense budget, defense technology
- Deleuze-Guattarirhizome, assemblage, deterritorialization, becoming, immanence
- military vehiclestank, tanks, supply trucks, fuel tankers, troop carriers
- siege weaponscatapult, trebuchet, ballista, mangonel, onager
war machinepeace movement
Campaign advocating nonviolent resolution
welfare state · peace corps · diplomatic corps · relief effort · peacekeeping force
war machinecivil society
Nongovernmental organized citizenry
domestic economy · social services · public works · healthcare system · education system
war, machine, warfare, wars, warring, warlike, warlord, wartime, warmonger