Synonyms for

Torpedo

Noun / tɔ:ˈrpi:ˌdəʊ / Another word for torpedo — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a cigar-shaped underwater missile designed to explode on contact with a target

Synonyms & similar words

triggerman zep numbfish gun hoagy hitman crampfish sub gunman submarine bomber hoagie hero grinder gunslinger shooter wedge missile projectile rocket bomb shell mine explosive charge grenade ammunition weapon armament ordnance firearm gun rifle pistol revolver shotgun

Synonyms by register

Formal

destroyer submersible underwater missile

Informal

fish rocket missile

Literary

sea serpent leviathan

Antonyms

assist aid support protect defend save

Common collocations

  • launch a torpedo
  • fire a torpedo
  • hit by a torpedo
  • torpedo boat
  • torpedo attack
  • acoustic torpedo
  • guided torpedo

Word family

noun torpedo
verb torpedo

Usage note

Primarily used as a noun referring to a self-propelled underwater weapon. As a verb, it means to destroy or wreck, often figuratively.

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Example sentences

  1. The navy uses torpedoes to protect their ships from enemy attacks.
  2. The torpedo exploded when it hit the target.
  3. The submarine crew loaded the torpedo into the launch tube.
  4. The torpedo was designed to sink the enemy's aircraft carrier.
  5. The torpedo has been used in naval battles for over 100 years.

Quotes

  • The torpedo, with its three hundred pounds of explosive, was a terrible weapon. - Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • The torpedo was a good weapon when it hit something. - Ernest Hemingway
  • We had a lot of trouble with the torpedo. The damn thing just wouldn't go straight. - Glenn Miller

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