push-button war

Definition

Noun: A type of warfare in which weapons are launched or activated by remote control or by pressing a button, often implying a war fought with advanced technology, such as missiles or drones, where direct human combat is minimized.

Usage Examples

• (A war fought through remote-controlled weapons.)
• (A conflict relying on automated or distant attacks.)

Advanced Usage

• "push-button war" often carries a critical connotation, suggesting that such warfare is impersonal and potentially more destructive because it removes the immediate human cost from decision-making.

Variants and Related Words

• Push-button (adj): operated by pressing a button; automated.
  • The push-button launch system was activated from a control room. (The system required only a button press to operate.)

Synonyms

• Remote warfare: military operations conducted from a distance using technology.
• Automated warfare: conflict where weapons are controlled by machines or computers.

Related Idioms

• Fight a push-button war: to engage in conflict primarily through technological means.
  • Modern nations often fight a push-button war with drones and missiles. (They rely on remote-controlled weapons.)