missing in action
adjective
: missing and unable to be confirmed as captured or killed following military action
a soldier who was declared missing in action
The 1st Cavalry Division casualties in Operation PERSHING totalled 852 troopers killed in action, 22 missing in action, 286 killed in noncombat circumstances …—
Shelby L. Stanton
—often used figuratively for someone or something notably or unexpectedly missing, absent, or inactiveShelby L. StantonMost readers expect an encyclopedia to give the judgment of scholars—a group largely missing in action here.—Julia Vitullo-Martin
Julia Vitullo-MartinThe movie itself has just resurfaced after having been missing in action for some time.—Video Review
Video ReviewBut lots of hair had turned gray (my own included); lots more was missing in action.—Joseph Epstein
Joseph EpsteinExamples of missing in action in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Among others, the office provides legal and psychotherapeutic and employment consultations for veterans, runs support groups for families of servicemen who are the prisoners of war in Russian captivity or are considered missing in action.
—Yuriy Zaliznyak, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2025
She's worked with the families of missing people for decades, including the widows of soldiers missing in action in the Vietnam War.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
News that Bailey, 36, was missing in action at the Academy Awards — despite the film earning 10 nominations — due to a prior work engagement.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
The investment required to drive the green transition and ensure resilience, however, is missing in action: just 14 of the 107 countries covered in the Future of Growth Framework invest more than 0.5 percent of GDP in renewable energy.
—Saadia Zahidi, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for missing in action
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Yuriy Zaliznyak, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2025
She's worked with the families of missing people for decades, including the widows of soldiers missing in action in the Vietnam War.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
News that Bailey, 36, was missing in action at the Academy Awards — despite the film earning 10 nominations — due to a prior work engagement.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
The investment required to drive the green transition and ensure resilience, however, is missing in action: just 14 of the 107 countries covered in the Future of Growth Framework invest more than 0.5 percent of GDP in renewable energy.
—Saadia Zahidi, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for missing in action
Cite this Entry
“Missing in action.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/missing%20in%20action. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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