war of words
noun phrase
: an argument in which people or groups criticize and disagree with each other publicly and repeatedly for usually a long time
Rival groups have engaged in a war of words over the new law.
Examples of war of words in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The President Donald Trump versus Gov. Gavin Newsom war of words — or really, social media posts — has only escalated in recent days as demonstrations protesting the federal government’s immigration enforcement operations continue.
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Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 11 June 2025
Despite the war of words that took place Thursday, some Trump allies suggested a detente or some kind of reunion was not out of the cards.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 6 June 2025
The war of words reached a crescendo during the afternoon when Trump threatened Musk's federal contracts.
—ArsTechnica, 5 June 2025
For legendary director and outspoken Democratic donor Rob Reiner, choosing sides between Bruce Springsteen and Donald Trump in their current war of words didn’t require much deliberation.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2025
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Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 11 June 2025
Despite the war of words that took place Thursday, some Trump allies suggested a detente or some kind of reunion was not out of the cards.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 6 June 2025
The war of words reached a crescendo during the afternoon when Trump threatened Musk's federal contracts.
—ArsTechnica, 5 June 2025
For legendary director and outspoken Democratic donor Rob Reiner, choosing sides between Bruce Springsteen and Donald Trump in their current war of words didn’t require much deliberation.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for war of words
Cite this Entry
“War of words.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/war%20of%20words. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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