Synonyms of war

war 1 of 2

noun

ˈwȯr 

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

• hostilities
• conflict
• conflagration
• skirmish
• hot war
• fighting
• warfare
• battle
• civil war
• world war
• cold war
• police action
• holy war
• combat
• limited war
• engagement
• action

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• disarmament
• demobilization
• demilitarization
• pacification
• truce
• tranquility
• calm
• peacefulness
• ceasefire

2

as in conflict

a lack of agreement or harmony

the siblings always seemed to be at war with one another

Synonyms & Similar Words

• conflict
• strife
• warfare
• discord
• friction
• schism
• discordance
• dissent
• discordancy
• division
• clash
• dispute
• infighting
• variance
• dissonance
• altercation
• disharmony
• disunity
• hostility
• disunion
• dissension
• fight
• dissidence
• argument
• debate
• contention
• divide
• disagreement
• inharmony
• collision
• quarrel
• competition
• disaccord
• fissure
• brawl
• spat
• squabble
• bicker
• falling-out
• tiff
• enmity
• run-in
• row
• animosity
• cold war
• inconsistency
• antagonism
• incongruity
• incompatibility
• wrangle
• jar
• scrap
• incongruence
• rancor
• ill will
• antipathy
• mix-up
• inconsonance
• hassle
• inharmoniousness
• miff
• inconsistence
• incongruousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• agreement
• harmony
• cooperation
• accord
• concordance
• concord
• concurrence

3

as in battle

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another

only the latest round in the never-ending class war

Synonyms & Similar Words

• battle
• rivalry
• warfare
• struggle
• conflict
• competition
• duel
• confrontation
• contention
• contest
• strife
• match
• combat
• clash
• dogfight
• ball game
• showdown
• tug-of-war
• sweepstakes
• face-off
• debate
• dispute
• grapple
• friction
• quarrel
• collision
• discord
• disputation
• argument
• horse race
• controversy
• nail-biter
• disagreement
• dissension
• row
• wrangle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• harmony
• concord

war

2 of 2

verb

as in to fight

Related Words

• fight
• battle
• contend
• resist
• oppose
• withstand
• prevent
• preserve
• save
• conserve
• avert
• protect
• picket
• defend
• fence
• wall
• ward
• safeguard
• guard
• buffer
• fend
• shield
• secure
• keep
• screen
• palisade
• bulwark
• forfend
• cover

Dissimilar Words

• assault
• attack
• assail
• overrun
• beset
• cave
• submit
• storm
• yield
• bombard
• besiege
• capitulate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of war

Noun

Russian drones have repeatedly breached Romanian airspace throughout the war. — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Yields have risen in recent months over growing concerns about inflation stemming from the monthslong war in Iran and ballooning government debt, among other factors. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

Written and directed by Denmark’s Oscar-winning Anders Thomas Jensen, its warring brothers are played by Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Mads Mikkelsen. — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026

Silicon Valley’s warring factions are pouring money into congressional primaries. — Nitasha Tiku, Washington Post, 23 May 2026

Phrases Containing war

• civil war
• hot war
• war (against)
• war hawk
• war paint