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Qaeda

Qaeda

542 9.3
An armed Islamic group that plans terrorist attacks against the United States and other countries
  • noun
  • /ˈkeɪdə/
  • NSFW
: Al Qaeda
  • Dismantling al Qaeda's core, including capturing or killing its leaders, should be the top priority.
  • al-Qaeda
  • Qaeda terrorists
  • a Qaeda leader

Let's not forget where Al Qaeda in Iraq came from.

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Examples

  • The deal made promises by the Taliban that they would cut ties to al Qaeda and ISIS.

  • Our War on Terror begins with Al Qaeda, but it does not end there.

  • This access allowed the United States to cut Al Qaeda off from all funding.

  • We'll bring Al Qaeda to justice, peace or no peace in the Middle East.

  • Most of the people in the United States know more about Al Qaeda than this guy.

  • We are caught between a drone on one hand and Al Qaeda on the other.

  • By mid-1996, al Qaeda was a shell of an organization, reduced to some 30 members.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The group has regional autonomy but ultimately answers to the central al-Qaeda organization for strategic direction.

    Academic text (2011)
  • After all, following September 11, 2001, Damascus provided intelligence on al-Qaeda to Washington that helped save American lives.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The military launched operations to dismantle Qaeda's network across the region.

Synonyms

al Qaeda
vsQaeda
  • NSFW
528 9.2

A militant Islamic group that carries out terrorist attacks worldwide

gives the core founding and attack information without naming people or events
al Qaida
vsQaeda
  • NSFW
87 7.5

A violent Islamic group that plans attacks around the world

keeps to the general founding and opposition idea without naming individuals
Al-Qaeda
vsQaeda
  • NSFW
83 8.6

An international violent group that follows extreme Islamic ideas and carries out terrorist attacks

is the simpler founding and attack-focused description without geopolitical wording
al-Qaeda
vsQaeda
  • NSFW
82 8.6

A violent group that says it acts for Islam and often plans attacks against the United States

focuses on founding and opposition rather than geographic reach or support roles
al-Qaida
vsQaeda
  • NSFW
68 9.9

A violent Islamist group that carries out terrorist attacks worldwide

is a general account of its founding and hostile actions without added specifics
al-Qa'ida
vsQaeda
  • NSFW
2 8.9

A violent group that plans attacks in many countries and supports other similar groups

stresses founding and opposition more generally rather than support activities

Compounds

9.9

An insulting, joking name for groups seen as extreme or violent, often from the US South

Surface Forms

Qaeda singular
Qaedas plural

Etymology

Qaeda comes from Arabic parts al- and qa'idah, which mean 'the base' or 'the foundation', like the English word base. It was used for a group seen as a 'base' for fighters, so today Qaeda is used for that militant group.