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
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Her The Kindred’s Curse Saga series follows healer Diem Bellator as the search for her missing mother pulls her into a growing civil war between the oppressed mortals of Emarion and the magic-wielding demigods known as the Descended.
—
Denise Petski, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026
It's estimated that at least 150,000 people have died in the civil war in Sudan that began in April 2023, the BBC previously reported.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
The deal fell apart during Lebanon’s civil war and was formally rescinded a year later.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Apr. 2026
The civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces — now in its third year — continues to devastate economic activity, displace millions, and fuel inflation.
—Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civil war
Denise Petski, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026
It's estimated that at least 150,000 people have died in the civil war in Sudan that began in April 2023, the BBC previously reported.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
The deal fell apart during Lebanon’s civil war and was formally rescinded a year later.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Apr. 2026
The civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces — now in its third year — continues to devastate economic activity, displace millions, and fuel inflation.
—Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civil war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil war
Noun
-
The war prompted Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that facilitates the transport of 20 million barrels of oil per day, or about one-fifth of the global supply.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
As fallout from the war with Iran keeps fuel prices high, few states are making moves to suspend their gas and diesel taxes.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Per a source, that cold war continued through the offseason.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
And that means that if the hot war ends, but Iran ends up in another cold war, that would be as fatal to the regime as the continuation of the hot war.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Minghella and a stellar cast never lose the tenderness amidst the epic sweep of a world war.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Fears that attacks on Iran could trigger a more widespread world war were unfounded.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The sharp rebound has surprised some market watchers because the conflict remains unresolved and a fragile ceasefire faces looming deadlines.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The price has dropped a bit in recent days amid optimism about a permanent resolution to the conflict but remains much higher than when the war began.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
By the conclusion of the second film, Paul had aligned with the native Fremen people of Arrakis to successfully defeat House Harkonnen and began a holy war against the Empire.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Some of these invocations align with Hegseth’s recurring references to the Crusades in the Middle Ages – a centuries-long holy war between Christians and Muslims.—
Samuel Perry,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
