The use of threats, intimidation, or other such tactics to try to bring about a particular outcome. The government's dropping of leaflets announcing the bombings was really just psychological warfare to weaken the enemy's morale. All right, I'll go to the family dinner, if only to get Mom to stop guilt-tripping me. I swear it's like psychological warfare with her!

The time at which someone or something is most able or likely to achieve success or desired result. The devastation of the country was the psychological moment for the dictator to seize power. The attack on the region created the psychological moment for the two rival nations to finally put aside their differences and join forces.