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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Recent Examples of civil war
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni sent his army to intervene in South Sudan’s 2013-2018 civil war on multiple occasions on behalf of Kiir’s forces, helping to turn the tide in his favor.
—
ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
But Bush 41 chose not to continue on to Baghdad and depose the Iraqi regime, because his advisers warned this would set off an Iraqi civil war.
—Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2026
One of the many scenarios being discussed in foreign ministries around the region is the possibility that the Iranian regime could split into competing factions or descend into a civil war, much as Syria and Libya did more than a decade ago.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
After nearly 30 years of civil war in Sri Lanka, which ended in 2009, Jayawardana told NBC News, the town had little appetite for seeing violence return, even indirectly.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civil war
ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
But Bush 41 chose not to continue on to Baghdad and depose the Iraqi regime, because his advisers warned this would set off an Iraqi civil war.
—Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2026
One of the many scenarios being discussed in foreign ministries around the region is the possibility that the Iranian regime could split into competing factions or descend into a civil war, much as Syria and Libya did more than a decade ago.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
After nearly 30 years of civil war in Sri Lanka, which ended in 2009, Jayawardana told NBC News, the town had little appetite for seeing violence return, even indirectly.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civil war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil war
Noun
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Both massive aircraft can act as the president’s emergency operations hub in times of national security threats, such as a nuclear war.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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When the war in Gaza erupted, the Houthis fired ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, in solidarity with the Palestinians, and imposed their chokehold on Red Sea shipping lanes.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The theory posited that wars in the post-cold war era would be fought along religious divides, bringing the West and the Islamic states such as Iran to clash.—
Debidatta A. Mahapatra,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
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Swedish pop star Zara Larsson is apparently locked in a cold war with one user who keeps swapping out the photo on her page.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Fears that attacks on Iran could trigger a more widespread world war were unfounded.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
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Our local representatives continue to support the head of their party as the world rushes toward another world war.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran toward Turkey on Monday, the second such incident, raising the risk the military alliance could be drawn more directly into the conflict.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
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As conflict destabilizes parts of the Middle East, the ripple effects are already reaching the region’s luxury economy, which has become a promising growth engine for a struggling global sector.—
Tara Donaldson,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And now religion has raised its ugly head in addresses to American troops about the conflict in Iran being a holy war and part of God’s plan.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
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This was particularly the case during and after the Iran-Iraq War, which lasted eight years in the 1980s and was perceived and portrayed as a holy war.—
Eric Lob,
The Conversation,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In contrast, China has made targeted investments intended to give it an advantage in a quick, limited war, while keeping its overall defense spending relatively modest: Beijing’s defense spending has risen from five percent of U.S. levels in 1995 to 32 percent in 2017.—
Oriana Skylar Mastro,
Foreign Affairs,
20 May 2025
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Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in a limited war since last October, but Israeli forces have significantly escalated the scope of their attacks since the beginning of September in an attempt to force Hezbollah to stop its attacks on northern Israel.—
Mike Brest,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
30 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Civil war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20war. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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