war

¹war

noun, often attributive \ˈwȯr\

Definition of WAR

1

a (1) : a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations (2) : a period of such armed conflict (3) : state of war b : the art or science of warfare c (1) obsolete : weapons and equipment for war (2) archaic : soldiers armed and equipped for war

2

a : a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism b : a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end <a class war> <a war against disease> c : variance, odds 3

— war·less \-ləs\ adjective

Examples of WAR

1. They fought a war over the disputed territory.
2. A war broke out when the colonists demanded their independence.
3. We need to resolve our conflicts without resorting to war.
4. People behave differently during a time of war.
5. The taking of American hostages was seen as an act of war by the United States.
6. the budget wars in Washington

Origin of WAR

Middle English werre, from Anglo-French werre, guerre, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werra strife; akin to Old High German werran to confuse

First Known Use: 12th century

Related to WAR

Synonyms: conflagration, conflict, hostilities, hot war

Antonyms: peace

Related Words: civil war, cold war, holy war, limited war, police action, world war; action, battle, engagement, skirmish; combat, fighting, warfare

Near Antonyms: demilitarization, demobilization, disarmament; pacification; cease-fire, truce; calm, peacefulness, tranquillity (or tranquility)

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

Rhymes with WAR

boar, Boer, bore, chore, cor, core, corps, crore, door, floor, for, fore, four, frore, gore, Gore, hoar, lore, mor, more, nor, o'er, oar, or, ore, poor, pore, pour, roar, score, shore, snore, soar, sore, splore, spoor, spore, store, Thor, tor, torr, whore, yore, your