Outgunned: meaning, definitions and examples
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outgunned
[ aʊtˈɡʌnd ]
military context
Outgunned refers to being at a disadvantage in terms of firepower or weaponry compared to an opponent. In a military context, it implies that one side has significantly more or better weapons than the other, affecting the outcome of any confrontation.
Synonyms
outmatched, overpowered, overwhelmed
Examples of usage
- The small army was outgunned by the enemy's heavy artillery.
- Despite their bravery, the insurgents found themselves outgunned and outnumbered.
- The police were outgunned during the standoff with organized criminals.
Translations
Translations of the word "outgunned" in other languages:
🇵🇹 superado em armamento
🇮🇳 हथियारों से अधिक
🇩🇪 überwältigt
🇮🇩 kalah dalam persenjataan
🇺🇦 озброєний перевагою
🇵🇱 przewyższony w uzbrojeniu
🇯🇵 武装された
🇫🇷 surclassé en armement
🇪🇸 superado en armamento
🇹🇷 silah bakımından üstün
🇰🇷 무장 우위에 있는
🇸🇦 متفوق في التسليح
🇨🇿 převýšen v ozbrojení
🇸🇰 prevýšený v zbrojení
🇨🇳 在武器上被超越
🇸🇮 presežen v oborožitvi
🇮🇸 yfirvöld í vopnum
🇰🇿 қару-жарақтан асып кеткен
🇬🇪 გაუმჯობესებული შეიარაღებით
🇦🇿 silahlanmada üstündür
🇲🇽 superado en armamento
Etymology
The term 'outgunned' combines the prefix 'out-' indicating a superior position or condition in relation to another, with the verb 'gun', which refers to firearms or can also refer to the act of shooting. The use of 'gun' to denote various firearms dates back to the Middle Ages, with the word likely originating from the Old Norse term 'gonna', which means to shoot. Over time, as firearms evolved and became a prominent part of warfare, the term 'outgun' emerged in military vernacular to describe an overwhelming advantage. The term has since been adopted more broadly in various contexts, symbolizing not only physical confrontations but also metaphorical uses in competition, where one entity significantly surpasses another in resources or capabilities.