trench warfare

noun

: warfare in which the opposing forces attack and counterattack from a relatively permanent system of trenches protected by barbed-wire entanglements

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web And that purpose — to de-glorify the horrors of trench warfare, mock the foolish vanity of nationalism and condemn the futility and cruelty of mass death — is one that should transcend barriers of language and culture anyway. Ed Stockly, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2023 Adding the armistice story line also enabled us to juxtapose stronger tonal shifts, scene to scene, giving the audience time to breathe from the immersive, emotional brutality of watching trench warfare. Lesley Paterson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2023 Each battle leading to progress, but always resembling trench warfare. Mike Freeman, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2023 Both films capture the sheer horror of trench warfare, and up-close deployment of new weapons, such as mustard gas. Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2023 Dilfer and a partial staff managed to sign 16 players during the early signing period, 11 of which were prep signees, and an emphasis was put on trench warfare and playmakers. Evan Dudley, al, 31 Jan. 2023 But also what's going on in the east is essentially trench warfare. CBS News, 8 Jan. 2023 Both sides have poured troops, tanks and artillery into the city, where brutal trench warfare has drawn comparisons to World War I. Isabel Coles, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2022 This is not to say that partisanship and trench warfare on climate change are going to recede like the world's ice sheets. Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2012 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trench warfare.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trench warfare was in 1887

Dictionary Entries Near trench warfare

Cite this Entry

“Trench warfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trench%20warfare. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.

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