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shock and awe

Military tactic consisting of excessive or overwhelming force to frighten and subdue the enemy; to intimidate, disrupt, or incapacitate one’s adversaries in order to achieve a desired reaction

Etymology:

  • As a military stategy, it is thought that the US established it in the 2003 Iraq War invasion, though numerous other historical instances exist that fit the bill.
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Submitted by JokerGem on May 12, 2023

Modified by JokerGem on May 12, 2023

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    "shock and awe." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/shock-and-awe_63763>.

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