psy-|saɪ|orig.U.S.Abbrev. of psychological a., used esp. in psy-war: see psychological warfares.v. psychological a. 3.1954Britannica Bk. of Year 638/1 Mental tensions were reflected in psy-war (psychological warfare).1965Wall St.Jrnl. 27 July 1/1 In the local bureaucratic jargon, this can come under the heading of ‘civic action’ or ‘rural reconstruction’ or ‘psy war’.1966New Statesman 14 Oct. 549/1 As psy-op cadres take the field And start to reconsolidate.1971Times Lit.Suppl. 7 May 519/1 In one sense, ‘psywar’ is not the same as propaganda—is its opposite even: while propaganda aims to influence belief, psywar influences action, and above all persuades those it is directed at into inaction.1974Jrnl. R. United Services Inst. June 38/1 Good Psy-Ops must be addressed to the need level in force and this need level is determined by multiple factors, not simply by the efficiency of an army's logistical services or the level of combat losses.1974Black Panther 16 Mar. 13/3 Such tactics amount to nothing less than psychological warfare, or as they say in Vietnam—‘psy-war’.