# shock and awe

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈʃɒk(ə)nd ˈɔː/

## Definitions
1. A doctrine based on the use of spectacular displays of force.

## Etymology
Coined by American defence strategists Harlan Kenneth Ullman (born 1941) and James P. Wade, Jr., in Shock and Awe (1996): see the quotation. The term gained greater public attention during the 2003 invasion of Iraq by US troops.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/shock-and-awe