Military Tactics Vocabulary

verb past tense of barb, which means to provide with a barb or barbs

adjective having sharp points or edges that can pierce or cut

• The barbed wire fence was installed to keep intruders out.
• Be careful around that barbed wire, it's sharp!
• I got a nasty cut from that barbed fence.
• Her words were like barbed arrows, piercing through his defenses.

noun a prolonged period of being under siege

verb to surround a place with armed forces in order to capture it or force its surrender

• The enemy army plans to besiege the city for months.
• The protestors are going to besiege the mayor's office until he listens to their demands.
• I feel like my inbox is besieged with spam emails every day.
• Negative thoughts can besiege your mind if you don't practice mindfulness.

noun a loud, aggressive, or indignant noise or commotion

verb to speak or behave in a noisy, aggressive, or indignant manner

• The politician's bluster did little to convince the public of his sincerity.
• Don't pay attention to his bluster, he's all talk and no action.
• He's just full of hot air, all that bluster and no substance.
• The storm's bluster was a powerful reminder of nature's force.

noun a thing that lies on, over, or around something, especially in order to protect or conceal it

verb to put something such as a lid or a cover on something else

adjective having the purpose of protecting or concealing something

preposition used to indicate location or position on top of something

• The insurance policy provides cover for a wide range of potential risks.
• Make sure to bring an umbrella to cover yourself in case it rains.
• I'll cover for you if you need to sneak out of work early.
• The new book cover caught my eye and I had to buy it.

noun A crouching position or posture

verb To bend low with the legs drawn up closely beneath or against the body

• The hiker had to crouch down to pass through the low cave entrance.
• I had to crouch to avoid hitting my head on the low doorway.
• Crouch down so you don't get spotted by the security guard.
• She had to mentally crouch to deal with the criticism from her boss.

noun a type of bridge that can be raised or lowered to allow passage for boats or ships

verb None

adjective None

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pronoun None

preposition None

conjunction None

interjection None

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• The ancient castle was equipped with a sturdy drawbridge that could be raised in times of attack.
• We had to wait for the drawbridge to lower before we could drive across the moat and enter the castle.
• I felt like a boss when I got to operate the drawbridge at the medieval fair.
• Her emotions were like a drawbridge, sometimes open and welcoming, other times closed off and unreachable.

noun radioactive particles that are carried into the atmosphere after a nuclear explosion or accident

• The fallout from the economic crisis was felt across the entire industry.
• There was a lot of fallout after the big argument at the family dinner.
• I can't believe the fallout from that party last night!
• The fallout from his decision to quit his job was a loss of stability in his life.

noun a cluster of small iron balls or lead pellets fired from a cannon as a projectile

• The soldiers loaded their cannons with grapeshot before the battle.
• I heard they fired grapeshot at the enemy troops.
• The grapeshot really messed up the enemy's formation.
• Her words felt like grapeshot, piercing through his defenses.

noun a large group or crowd, especially one that is unruly or disorderly

• The horde of protestors gathered outside the government building demanding change.
• There was a horde of people waiting in line for the new iPhone release.
• I can't believe the horde of fans at the concert last night, it was insane!
• The horde of negative thoughts in my mind can be overwhelming at times.

noun a thing that is not within one's field of vision or is hidden from view

adjective extremely impressive or excellent

• The painting was carefully stored away out of sight to protect it from any damage.
• I like to keep my messy desk out of sight when guests come over.
• I stashed the snacks out of sight so my siblings wouldn't find them.
• Her talent was so exceptional that it was often said to be out of sight compared to others in her field.

verb to move or hide in a secretive or sneaky manner

• The detective observed the suspect skulk around the corner.
• I saw Tom skulk behind the bushes when he thought no one was looking.
• Why are you skulking around like a creep?
• His guilt made him feel like a shadow that would forever skulk behind him.

verb present participle form of the verb 'swarm', which means to move in large numbers

• The area was swarming with tourists during peak season.
• The party was swarming with people by midnight.
• The concert was swarming with fans who were ready to rock out.
• Thoughts of doubt and worry were swarming in her mind.

noun the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties

adjective vigilant

• The security team maintained a high level of vigilance to prevent any potential threats.
• I always keep a close eye on my surroundings, just to be safe.
• Dude, you gotta stay woke and keep your vigilance up in this sketchy neighborhood.
• In the game of politics, vigilance is key to detecting and countering any underhanded tactics.

noun a type of apartment or building in which the main entrance is accessed by walking up a flight of stairs

• The police are investigating a walk-up shooting that occurred in the downtown area.
• Did you hear about the walk-up shooting on Main Street last night?
• There was a crazy walk-up shooting at the party last weekend.
• The sudden increase in competition was like a walk-up shooting in the business world.

noun a person or thing that infiltrates, especially an unauthorized individual or substance entering a place surreptitiously

• The infiltrant was able to gain access to classified information.
• The infiltrant snuck into the building without anyone noticing.
• The infiltrant was a real ninja, slipping past security easily.
• Her charm was the perfect infiltrant into his guarded heart.

verb To become dark or dim; to turn off or stop emitting light

adjective Describing the state of being dark or dim

• The company decided to go dark on social media for a while to focus on their new product launch.
• I heard that John's phone battery is about to go dark, so he might not be able to answer calls.
• When the party gets too loud, I just want to go dark and chill out for a bit.
• After the scandal, the celebrity chose to go dark and stay out of the public eye for a while.

noun A formation - a specific arrangement or configuration of elements

article A - used before a singular noun to indicate one of a class or type

• The geologist studied the rock layers to determine if they were formed in a formation.
• The soccer team practiced a new formation for the upcoming game.
• I saw a sick dance crew busting out some crazy formations at the competition.
• The company implemented a new marketing strategy that was like a formation of troops ready for battle.

noun a secondary or delayed effect or repercussion, especially a damaging one

• The fencer delivered a swift afterblow to her opponent's torso.
• He got hit with an afterblow right after he thought he had won.
• She nailed him with an afterblow when he least expected it.
• The unexpected afterblow of losing his job left him feeling devastated.