idiom

Show of Force

shoh uv forss

/ʃoʊ əv fɔːrs/

Listen

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Syllable breakdown

showofforce

Dictionary meaning

A visible military deployment or demonstration of military capability intended to deter an adversary or reassure allies without engaging in actual combat

History and origin

Military and diplomatic usage; the term appears frequently in conflict analysis and international relations reporting

Examples

The carrier strike group's passage through the Taiwan Strait was widely read as a show of force.
Conducting large-scale military exercises near a border can serve as a show of force to deter incursion.

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