as in wars
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 wars
All revolutions are ultimately civil wars, right?
—
Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025
Then, back-to-back civil wars in the 1990s and 2000s cratered the economy.
—Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
This week marks a decade since Merkel’s historic decision to open her country’s borders to the large numbers of migrants who were then arriving in Europe in search of refuge from civil wars or dire economic hardship.
—Sebastian Shukla, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
In the 20th century, China was devastated by civil wars, Japanese occupation, and then very bad policies which led to low productivity and widespread famine.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025
Then, back-to-back civil wars in the 1990s and 2000s cratered the economy.
—Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
This week marks a decade since Merkel’s historic decision to open her country’s borders to the large numbers of migrants who were then arriving in Europe in search of refuge from civil wars or dire economic hardship.
—Sebastian Shukla, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
In the 20th century, China was devastated by civil wars, Japanese occupation, and then very bad policies which led to low productivity and widespread famine.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil wars
Noun
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In one scene, real footage of Benjamin Netanyahu appears on the television of Anat’s father, who is suffering post-traumatic flashbacks from his own wars.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
3 Oct. 2025
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The reasons for that lack of credibility extend well beyond the campus speech wars of the past few decades.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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His support for a ceasefire and emphasis on humanitarian needs echo the global desire for stability as hostilities continue and diplomatic efforts intensify.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
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For example, in a fiery defense of federal aid to the citizens of Alabama and Georgia devastated by recent Native American hostilities, Adams invoked Congress’s war powers, while calling attention to a deeper hypocrisy.—
Time,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Digging in your heels invites trouble as Mercury conflicts Pluto.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
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The Third Avenue Project was designed to reduce the violence and open drug use through extensive outreach and the deescalation of conflicts between people on the street.—
Ashley Hiruko,
ProPublica,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Civil wars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20wars. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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