psychological warfare
psychological warfare — noun
1. the use of non-physical actions — such as spreading false information, creating
the use of non-physical actions — such as spreading false information, creating fear, or sending threatening messages — to change the way a person or group thinks or behaves.
The opposition party accused the government of using psychological warfare to keep citizens from protesting.
uncountable noun used with 'using'
Mira's group fought back against the psychological warfare by posting facts and evidence online.
The company spread false rumors about its rival as a form of psychological warfare.
Enemy radio stations broadcast fake invasion reports to spread fear as psychological warfare.
- propaganda
focuses on spreading biased or misleading information, not necessarily fear-based
- mind games
more informal; describes personal, one-on-one manipulation rather than organized campaigns
- information warfare
more specific to digital and media operations in modern conflicts
用法筆記
This sense is always uncountable and often appears in political, corporate, or social-conflict contexts.
常見錯誤
2. in military or competitive situations, actions designed to destroy an enemy's or
in military or competitive situations, actions designed to destroy an enemy's or opponent's confidence, morale, and will to keep fighting or competing.
The general launched a psychological warfare campaign to make enemy soldiers lose hope.
collocation: a campaign of psychological warfare
During the campaign, Ziad's team stopped debating policy and waged psychological warfare by spreading rumors about the opponent's personal life.
used in competitive contexts beyond literal warfare
During the siege, the attackers waged psychological warfare by broadcasting the names of fallen soldiers over loudspeakers at night.
The dictator's regime waged psychological warfare by sending threatening letters to the families of political opponents.
- psychological operations
more formal and neutral; the official military term for planned psychological tactics
- psy-ops
informal abbreviation; refers specifically to military psychological operations
- demoralization
focuses on the outcome (loss of morale) rather than the methods used
用法筆記
Frequently appears in military history and competitive strategy contexts. In non-military settings, carries a strong negative connotation of unfair or unethical tactics.