terrorism

/ˈtɛrəˌrɪzəm/
noun
  1. The use of violence, especially against civilians, to achieve political or ideological goals.
    • Many innocent people have suffered because of terrorism around the world.
    • The country has been fighting terrorism for over a decade.
    • The government passed new laws to combat terrorism.
  2. A method of intimidation or coercion through fear, often in non-political contexts.
    • The bully's terrorism made the whole school afraid to speak up.
    • Emotional terrorism in relationships can be just as damaging as physical violence.
    • Some companies use economic terrorism to force smaller competitors out of business.