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
On the other hand, the Trump campaign messages on healthcare have been more ambiguous or completely missing in action.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024
Since World War II and all the conflicts that have followed, more than 81,000 American service members remain missing in action.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2024
These women, the wives of soldiers, sailors, and airmen who were prisoners of war or missing in action, not only fought for their husbands' return but also reshaped American foreign policy and military protocols.
—Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024
With the United States missing in action during President Donald Trump’s four years in office, and Europe preoccupied with Brexit and other intramural disputes, the governments in Beijing and Moscow had their opportunity to establish themselves as global models.
—Madeleine K. Albright, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021
See all Example Sentences for missing in action 
Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024
Since World War II and all the conflicts that have followed, more than 81,000 American service members remain missing in action.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2024
These women, the wives of soldiers, sailors, and airmen who were prisoners of war or missing in action, not only fought for their husbands' return but also reshaped American foreign policy and military protocols.
—Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024
With the United States missing in action during President Donald Trump’s four years in office, and Europe preoccupied with Brexit and other intramural disputes, the governments in Beijing and Moscow had their opportunity to establish themselves as global models.
—Madeleine K. Albright, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021
See all Example Sentences for missing in action
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'missing in action.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near 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 2 Nov. 2024.
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