psychological warfare


noun

the use of propaganda, threats, and other psychological techniques to mislead, intimidate, demoralize, or otherwise influence the thinking or behavior of an opponent.

Origin of psychological warfare

First recorded in 1935–40

Example sentences from the Web for psychological warfare

  • It was beginning to look as though the psychological-warfare experiment might show another, unexpected, success.

    Oomphel in the Sky |Henry Beam Piper

British Dictionary definitions for psychological warfare

psychological warfare

noun

the military application of psychology, esp to propaganda and attempts to influence the morale of enemy and friendly groups in time of war