state of war
noun phrase
1
a
: a state of actual armed hostilities regardless of a formal declaration of war
b
: a legal state created and ended by official declaration regardless of actual armed hostilities and usually characterized by operation of the rules of war
2
: the period of time during which a state of war is in effect
Examples of state of war in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The declaration of a state of war in Israel in October 2023 and the start of Israeli military operations in Gaza shortly after heralded a fundamental shift in this already precarious status.
—
Asad Ghanem, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2025
With Hamas prioritizing terrorism over governance, Gaza has remained in a state of war and siege.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2025
Syria and Israel have been in a state of war since Israel's creation in 1948 and have never had diplomatic ties.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024
My kudos to Kelly and Wes for being able to keep in that extreme state of war emotionally throughout that scene.
—William Earl, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024
All of that research and development has been vital over the last year as Israel has been in a state of war.
—Mike Brest, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Oct. 2024
North and South Korea are separated by one of the world’s most militarized borders and remain technically in a state of war.
—Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024
First, the next president should formally begin the process of resolving the fundamental issue, the enduring technical state of war since the 1953 Armistice, which paused but did not end the Korean War.
—Christine Ahn, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2024
Some types of emergencies — for a state of war, or arising from a fire or flood — would not expire automatically.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 16 Oct. 2024
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Asad Ghanem, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2025
With Hamas prioritizing terrorism over governance, Gaza has remained in a state of war and siege.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2025
Syria and Israel have been in a state of war since Israel's creation in 1948 and have never had diplomatic ties.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024
My kudos to Kelly and Wes for being able to keep in that extreme state of war emotionally throughout that scene.
—William Earl, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024
All of that research and development has been vital over the last year as Israel has been in a state of war.
—Mike Brest, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Oct. 2024
North and South Korea are separated by one of the world’s most militarized borders and remain technically in a state of war.
—Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024
First, the next president should formally begin the process of resolving the fundamental issue, the enduring technical state of war since the 1953 Armistice, which paused but did not end the Korean War.
—Christine Ahn, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2024
Some types of emergencies — for a state of war, or arising from a fire or flood — would not expire automatically.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 16 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“State of war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/state%20of%20war. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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