Meaning & use
scorched-earth policy
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountablemilitary
A military strategy of destroying crops, buildings and supplies in an area so an enemy cannot use them.
Grammar: Usually with an or the: adopt a scorched-earth policy.
Patterns
- adopt a scorched-earth policy
The retreating army followed a scorched-earth policy.
Historians describe the scorched-earth policy that ruined the villages.
A scorched-earth policy leaves nothing for the invaders.
nouncountablefigurative
An extreme approach in business or politics that deliberately damages everything of value to prevent opponents benefiting.
Grammar: Used figuratively: a scorched-earth policy in negotiations.
Patterns
- a scorched-earth policy toward someone
The company adopted a scorched-earth policy against its rival.
Critics called the campaign a scorched-earth policy.
His scorched-earth policy in the divorce left both sides poor.
Word forms
| plural | scorched-earth policies |
|---|
Common combinations
- adopt a scorched-earth policy
- The general decided to adopt a scorched-earth policy.
- pursue a scorched-earth policy
- The firm pursued a scorched-earth policy against competitors.
- scorched-earth tactics
- The negotiators used scorched-earth tactics.
- scorched-earth campaign
- The scorched-earth campaign destroyed whole regions.
Synonyms and how they differ
- destructive strategy
- A destructive strategy is general, while scorched-earth policy has a specific military origin.
- total war
- Total war involves using all resources, not only destroying useful things.
- razing
- Razing means flattening buildings and is a single action, not a whole policy.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: scorched-earth policy or scorched earth?
scorched-earth policy vs scorched earth
Scorched earth without policy names the burnt land itself; the full phrase names the strategy.
Practice
What is the main aim of a scorched-earth policy?
Choose one answer.
A scorched-earth policy destroys resources so an enemy cannot use them. The other options are the opposite of that aim.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “scorched-earth policy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.