war 1 of 2

Definition of warnext
1
as in hostilities
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups the war was the result of ethnic tensions that had been building in the region for decades

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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war

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of war
Noun
But since the war began, traffic has been reduced to a trickle, with just 154 vessels recorded crossing in the entire month of March, according to Kpler data. Henrik Pettersson, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026 And don’t forget to visit Bonampak in Chiapas to see stunning murals that depict Mayan culture with drawings of sacrifices and wars that took place in the classical and post-classical eras. Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
It’s expected to commence once details about Gaza’s governance are hashed out by the warring sides and third-party mediators. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Jan. 2026 If the country had sustained a center and not fallen into warring camps, here is what would have happened in the last year. Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 10 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for war
Noun
  • Though active hostilities have paused for the moment, the conflict has already exacted a tragic toll on combatants and civilians alike, threatened global stability and underscored in stark relief the grim reality of war.
    William E. Lori, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
  • German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Saturday his country is sending minesweeper ships to the Mediterranean to help remove Iranian mines from the strait once hostilities end.
    Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But none of these conflicts affected so many corners of the world as swiftly as the Iran war.
    Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
  • While they are all expected to leave interest rates unchanged, investors are keen to know how officials view the inflation threat posed by the oil shock stemming from the US-Iran conflict.
    Ashutosh Joshi, Bloomberg, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Voters will probably be bombarded with political ads and arguments from opposing sides as the battle intensifies.
    Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The Koh-i-Noor then spent 70 years in Afghanistan, where it was passed around by leaders who won bloody battles against one another.
    Doha Madani, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Viel also finished the game by fighting Podkolzin.
    Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Does the fact that none of this was effective—at least in the sense that Trump hasn’t been driven from the political scene for good—suggest that Democrats should now fight dirtier?
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Planting shrubs that can grow as high as two stories is a way to combat some of the strife caused by the traffic.
    Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
  • European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Friday that the EU is ready to work with Persian Gulf countries for new projects conveying energy to global markets that wouldn’t be held hostage to war or geopolitical strife.
    ABC News, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In December, Chelsea’s players looked inexplicably unprepared for the intensity of this long-time rivalry and were caught out via defensive errors.
    Cerys Jones, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • They also are slotted to host an ACC opponent, probably the Blue Devils, and an annual rivalry game against Florida State (on the road this year).
    Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The company's lawyers have contended that the Oklahoma case in which Drummond intervened is a private dispute that doesn't involve government officials or public funds.
    Michael Copley, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
  • And in an effort to rebut claims that Comey was being selectively prosecuted, Blanche contended the case against the former FBI director was similar to other threats cases the department routinely brings against the lesser known.
    Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Also, American defense technology company Anduril Industries just announced a strategic partnership with the Ukrainian drone detection and electronic warfare firm Kara Dag Technologies.
    Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Sue Halpern assesses the current threat of digital warfare and how the Administration may have weakened American defenses.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“War.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/war. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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