brinkmanship

noun

brink·​man·​ship ˈbriŋk-mən-ˌship How to pronounce brinkmanship (audio)
variants or less commonly brinksmanship
: the art or practice of pushing a dangerous situation or confrontation to the limit of safety especially to force a desired outcome

Examples of brinkmanship in a Sentence

two nations caught up in nuclear brinksmanship
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
This brinkmanship requires careful choreography: states must learn how to pressure their adversaries just enough to shape their behavior without crossing thresholds that could trigger a significant response. Erik Lin-Greenberg, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2024 As Israeli jets continued to pound Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, and Hezbollah extended its barrage of rocket fire ever deeper into Israeli territory, concerns grew that brinkmanship could tip the Middle East into a wider regional war. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Sep. 2024 In a game of brinkmanship against a nonnuclear state, the United States must send costly signals that demonstrate commitment and capability, such as retaliatory strikes or the deployment of aircraft carriers and submarines for long periods. Carter Malkasian, Foreign Affairs, 20 Sep. 2024 The commission was founded nearly 40 years ago by Democrats and Republicans seeking to end the political brinkmanship and tiresome debate over debates that had become a regular part of presidential campaigning. Mark Barabak, The Mercury News, 21 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for brinkmanship 

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brinkmanship was in 1956

Dictionary Entries Near brinkmanship

Cite this Entry

“Brinkmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brinkmanship. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

brinkmanship

noun
brink·​man·​ship ˈbriŋk-mən-ˌship How to pronounce brinkmanship (audio)
: the practice of pushing a dangerous situation to the limit of safety before stopping

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