[Ads-l] kinetic

[Jonathan Lighter]

MW better get with it.

JL

On Wed, May 6, 2026 at 11:15 AM Ben Zimmer <
00001aae0710f4b7-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:

> "Kinetic event" was brought up here in 2010 by (checks notes) Jon Lighter.
>
>
> https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2010-September/102743.html
>
> It would go on to win the Most Euphemistic category in the 2010 ADS WOTY
> voting (defined on the nomination list as "Pentagon term for violent
> attacks on troops in Afghanistan").
>
> --bgz
>
> On Wed, May 6, 2026 at 7:21 AM Jonathan Lighter <
> 00001aad181a2549-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:
>
> > 'Involving offensive military action or active fire.' This specific
> > military sense is not in  MW, but I've been hearing it almost every day
> on
> > the news.  It strikes me as recent.
> >
> > <goog_809991342>
> > https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/05/world/live-news/iran-war-news :
> > Pausing US “kinetic activity” around the Strait of Hormuz could help
> bring
> > moderate voices in the Iranian regime back to the negotiating table, he
> > said.
> >
> > https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/089bc1a2fe684405a67d67f13bd31324 :
> > The Iran and Axis Response feature represents Iranian and Axis of
> > Resistance retaliatory strikes against the US, Israel, and countries
> > hosting US bases, and other targets. The feature consists of discrete
> > kinetic events recorded by date, location, and actor.
> >
> > JL
> >
> >
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
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>


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