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 The ethnic and religious problems in Ethiopia right now that could pull the country into a civil war are part of that. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 2 Aug. 2026 Finally, forty years after the civil war in Spain, the country wanted just to get together with Europe, to be part of the European Union, to be free. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026 The ruling also affects about 6,000 immigrants from Syria, which was torn by devastating civil war between 2011 and 2024. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 31 July 2026 The rebuff contributes to the future civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, in which Rhaenyra battles her half-brother Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) for the seat of power. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 30 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
  • Both areas saw heavy fighting in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war and are currently occupied by Israeli forces.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The Saudi Arabian government has been dealing with the economic fallout from the war between the US and Iran, which launched late in February, and the subsequent effects on the oil markets that are so lucrative to the Saudi government.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 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 more than five-month-old conflict, which was already expanding beyond its main fronts, has embroiled further countries in the Middle East in recent days, notably the likes of Iraq and Egypt.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
  • As Tehran and Washington issue mixed messages, the status of the strait remains at the core of the conflict.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 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 7 Aug. 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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