declare war
idiom
: to officially decide to fight or go to war
Congress has the power to declare war on/against other countries.
—often used figurativelyThe state has declared war on illiteracy.
Examples of declare war in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But Democrats note the Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war.
—
Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Congress could formally declare war, but has not done so since 1942.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2025
Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats alike have debated whether the Trump administration’s decision to bomb Iran’s three nuclear facilities on June 22 constituted an unofficial declaration of war – since Trump has not asked Congress to formally declare war against Iran.
—Andrea Stanton, The Conversation, 26 June 2025
Only Congress has power to declare war under the War Powers Act of 1973.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for declare war
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Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Congress could formally declare war, but has not done so since 1942.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2025
Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats alike have debated whether the Trump administration’s decision to bomb Iran’s three nuclear facilities on June 22 constituted an unofficial declaration of war – since Trump has not asked Congress to formally declare war against Iran.
—Andrea Stanton, The Conversation, 26 June 2025
Only Congress has power to declare war under the War Powers Act of 1973.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for declare war
Cite this Entry
“Declare war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/declare%20war. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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