Here we look at some of the most common militaristic words that are regularly used in journalism, along with their intended meaning and possible non-militaristic alternatives.
Many militaristic words have several meanings and are used in everyday language, so it’s not necessarily wrong to use them, but journalists might want to consider using alternatives for several reasons.
In his two articles ‘The power of words‘ and ‘Clichés, journalese, and jargon‘, John Allen looked at the importance of using the right word when writing. He set out why some words are better than others for conveying accurate information.
Choosing the wrong words when writing a piece of journalism can influence how the reader, listener or view interprets the story. Choosing the right words can provide accuracy and clarity and enhance understanding. Here are some examples:
1. Avoiding sensationalism and fear-mongering
Militaristic language often exaggerates the reality of a situation, making ordinary events sound more dramatic or combative than they really are. For example, saying a politician was “ambushed by reporters” implies aggression when “asked tough questions” would be more accurate. Using neutral language helps maintain credibility and avoid unnecessary alarm.
- Militaristic: “Retail giant under siege as competitors launch price war.”
- Neutral alternative: “Retail giant faces strong competition in pricing battle.”
- Why? “Under siege” and “price war” create unnecessary drama, making it sound like an actual attack rather than market competition.
2. Promoting constructive dialogue over conflict
Words shape perceptions. Militaristic language could make people think in terms of battles, enemies, and winners versus losers. This fosters an “us versus them” mentality, which can lead to a polarising of discussions. For instance, calling a political disagreement a “war” makes compromise seem impossible, while calling it a “debate” encourages reasoned discussion.
- Militaristic: “The president fired the first shot in the battle over tax cuts.”
- Neutral alternative: “The president introduced a new proposal for tax cuts.”
- Why? Framing a political decision as a “battle” encourages divisiveness, while “introduced a proposal” emphasises discussion and policymaking.
3. Ensuring accuracy and clarity
Military terms often have precise meanings that don’t fully align with the topics they’re used to describe. “Collateral damage” in war refers to unintended civilian deaths, but using it for a business closing a store due to losses minimises the human impact. More accurate wording, such as “unintended consequences,” keeps reporting clear and honest.
- Militaristic: “The CEO’s decision caused collateral damage among employees.”
- Neutral alternative: “The CEO’s decision led to unintended consequences for employees.”
- Why? “Collateral damage” is a war term for unintended deaths, which minimises the impact on real people when used in business reporting.
4. Reducing desensitisation to violence
Overusing military language in everyday contexts could normalise warlike thinking. If everything is a “battle” or “attack,” real violence may start to feel routine or acceptable. By reserving militaristic terms for actual military-related stories, journalists can help maintain a healthy distinction between competition, debate, and real warfare.
- Militaristic: “The mayor dropped a political bombshell today.”
- Neutral alternative: “The mayor made a surprising announcement today.”
- Why? Using “bombshell” unnecessarily equates politics with explosions and destruction, making actual violence seem less serious.
5. Encouraging empathy and nuance
Militaristic words often strip people of their human individuality and community identity, reducing groups to “targets” or “enemies.” This dehumanisation makes it easier to dismiss concerns or justify hostility. Describing a group as “frustrated” rather than “rebelling” allows for a more nuanced and empathetic portrayal of their situation.
- Militaristic: “Activists launched an all-out assault on the new housing policy.”
- Neutral alternative: “Activists strongly opposed the new housing policy.”
- Why? “All-out assault” portrays activists as aggressors rather than engaged citizens, which may bias the reader’s perception.
6. Fostering a less aggressive public mindset
Language influences culture. A constant barrage of war-like terms can make people more combative in their interactions, from politics to workplace discussions. Choosing non-militaristic language encourages cooperation and thoughtful engagement rather than hostility and defensiveness.
- Militaristic: “Companies are arming themselves with new technology in the AI arms race.”
- Neutral alternative: “Companies are investing in new technology to stay competitive in AI development.”
- Why? “Arming” and “arms race” turn innovation into warfare, encouraging a mindset of conflict rather than progress.
List of commonly used militaristic words
We have compiled a list of militaristic words that are regularly used in journalism along with their intended meaning, their militaristic meaning, and alternatives words journalists might want to consider using instead.
- Ambush
- Intended meaning: A surprise challenge (e.g., “The interviewer ambushed the politician with tough questions”).
- Military meaning: A surprise military attack.
- Alternative: Surprise, catch off guard.
- Battle
- Intended meaning: A struggle or intense effort (e.g., “The battle against climate change”).
- Military meaning: A fight between opposing forces.
- Alternative: Struggle, challenge, effort.
- Bombshell
- Intended meaning: A shocking revelation or event.
- Military meaning: An explosive device dropped from the air.
- Alternative: Shocker, revelation, surprise.
- Campaign
- Intended meaning: A strategic effort to achieve a goal (e.g., “An advertising campaign”).
- Military meaning: A series of planned military operations.
- Alternative: Initiative, effort, movement.
- Casualties
- Intended meaning: Losses in a non-military context (e.g., “Economic casualties”).
- Military meaning: People killed or injured in war.
- Alternative: Losses, affected individuals.
- Combat
- Intended meaning: To struggle against something (e.g., “Combating misinformation”).
- Military meaning: Engaging in battle.
- Alternative: Fight, address, tackle.
- Deploy
- Intended meaning: To strategically use something (e.g., “Deploying resources”).
- Military meaning: To position troops or equipment for battle.
- Alternative: Utilise, implement, distribute.
- Explosive
- Intended meaning: Something intense or dramatic (e.g., “Explosive growth”).
- Military meaning: A device that detonates violently.
- Alternative: Intense, dramatic, rapid.
- Firepower
- Intended meaning: Strength or influence.
- Military meaning: The destructive capability of weapons.
- Alternative: Influence, resources, strength.
- Flagship
- Intended meaning: The most important or prominent item.
- Military meaning: The lead ship in a fleet.
- Alternative: Premier, leading, top-tier.
- Frontline
- Intended meaning: The most active or important position in a situation.
- Military meaning: The forward-most part of a battlefield.
- Alternative: Forefront, leading position.
- Guerrilla tactics
- Intended meaning: Unconventional strategies.
- Military meaning: Small, irregular combat operations.
- Alternative: Unconventional methods, innovative strategies.
- Launch
- Intended meaning: To begin or introduce something.
- Military meaning: To fire a missile or initiate an attack.
- Alternative: Start, introduce, roll out.
- Miss the target
- Intended meaning: To fail in achieving an objective.
- Military meaning: A missed shot in combat.
- Alternative: Fall short, fail to meet expectations.
- Onslaught
- Intended meaning: A strong or overwhelming attack (e.g., “An onslaught of criticism”).
- Military meaning: A fierce and sustained military attack.
- Alternative: Wave, flood, barrage.
- Overrun
- Intended meaning: To overwhelm or take over something.
- Military meaning: To capture an area by force.
- Alternative: Flood, overwhelm, inundate.
- Retreat
- Intended meaning: To withdraw from a situation.
- Military meaning: A withdrawal from combat.
- Alternative: Step back, withdraw, regroup.
- Salvo
- Intended meaning: A forceful verbal attack (e.g., “A salvo of accusations”).
- Military meaning: A simultaneous discharge of artillery or gunfire.
- Alternative: Burst, outburst.
- Shell shock
- Intended meaning: A state of shock or disbelief.
- Military meaning: A psychological condition caused by prolonged combat stress.
- Alternative: Shock, trauma, distress.
- Stronghold
- Intended meaning: A place of dominance or support.
- Military meaning: A fortified military position.
- Alternative: Hub, centre, strong base.
- Target
- Intended meaning: A goal or focus.
- Military meaning: An object aimed at in warfare.
- Alternative: Objective, focus.
- Torpedo
- Intended meaning: To deliberately ruin something (e.g., “Torpedoing a deal”).
- Military meaning: A self-propelled underwater missile.
- Alternative: Sabotage, undermine, derail.
- Troops
- Intended meaning: A group of people working together.
- Military meaning: Soldiers or military personnel.
- Alternative: Team, workforce, staff.
- Under siege
- Intended meaning: Under intense pressure or attack.
- Military meaning: A location surrounded by enemy forces.
- Alternative: Facing pressure, under scrutiny.
- War chest
- Intended meaning: A reserve of resources or funds.
- Military meaning: A stockpile of funds for warfare.
- Alternative: Reserve, resources, budget.
- War of words
- Intended meaning: An intense verbal dispute.
- Military meaning: A metaphor based on real warfare.
- Alternative: Heated debate, verbal conflict.
- Wipe out
- Intended meaning: To completely remove or eliminate something.
- Military meaning: To destroy completely in combat.
- Alternative: Eliminate, eradicate, remove.
Conclusion
While militaristic terms can be powerful when discussing actual conflicts, their overuse in everyday journalism distorts reality, encourages division, and numbs audiences to real violence. By opting for precise, non-militaristic alternatives, journalists can provide more accurate, engaging, and responsible reporting.
Language shapes how people think, so making thoughtful word choices helps foster a more accurate and constructive public dialogue.
