civil war

noun

Definition of civil warnext
as in war
a a state or period of fighting between groups of people in the same country a region that has had many civil wars

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of civil war Season 2 will see the Harrigans on the brink of civil war within their own family, struggling to show a united front as rival gangs emerge to threaten their north London crime empire. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 July 2026 Meanwhile, the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power in the October Revolution, and Russia plunged into civil war. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026 The state sponsor of terrorism label, first imposed on Syria in 1979 after a previous regime sided with Palestinian militants, continues to repel the business deals the country needs to recover from its crippling civil war. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 8 July 2026 Its incredible restoration under a charismatic Italian priest, his tragic disappearance and presumed death during the Syrian civil war, and the inspiring interfaith work of the monastery's remaining monks and nuns all fascinated me. — Emily Feng, NPR, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for civil war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil war
  1. war
  2. cold war
  3. world war
  4. conflict
  5. holy war
  6. limited war
Noun
  • The group believes the Iranian regime has ramped up executions under the cover of war.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • The announcement comes as rising geopolitical tensions, including wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, spur governments to rearm and reinvest in domestic industrial capacity.
    — Hugh Son, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Definition of war
Noun
  • The report, based on in-depth interviews with single-family office principals and CIOs across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, captures a generational cold war playing out inside the world’s most secretive financial institutions.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 June 2026
  • Ahead of season 3, EW has launched three motion covers, each one starring a contender for the crown — as the show's cold war escalates into literal dragon fire.
    — Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 29 May 2026
Definition of cold war
Noun
  • Louis' boxing matches with Schmeling were viewed as pivotal international events in the context of the brewing world war with Nazi Germany.
    — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026
  • Horkheimer, amid the wreckage of world war, lost faith in progress; his dialectic negated one construct after another.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Definition of world war
Noun
  • The oil crisis brought on by the conflict in Iran has also boosted demand for China’s clean energy technology such as batteries and electric vehicles, as major energy importers have sought ways to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • This puts the big conflict of the episode into a different sort of relief.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 July 2026
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • Commentary and opinions Bass clears the first hurdle, but if Pratt holds off Raman, the mayoral race could be a holy war, writes columnist Steve Lopez.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
  • Khomeini demonized the United States and Soviet Union as the Iran-Iraq holy war raged during much of his tenure.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 19 May 2026
Definition of holy war
Noun
  • In this scenario, which may already be coming to fruition, the meager hope is that the conflict transforms into simply a more limited war.
    — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 5 Apr. 2024
  • Many scholars panned the book, believing its 34-year-old author had overestimated the nation’s ability to keep limited war limited.
    — David E. Sanger, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
Definition of limited war

Browse Nearby Words

civil unions
civil war
civil wars
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Cite this Entry

“Civil war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20war. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on civil war

Nglish: Translation of civil war for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about civil war

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