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
In civil wars, intragroup conflict may be worse for mental health than out-group conflict.
—
Ann Manov,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
So, the civil wars of the 1640s.
—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
25 May 2026
But such a hope was belied by the developments after the cold war ended as civil wars ensued in many parts of the world.
—
Debidatta A. Mahapatra,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Each of these civil wars ended in peace agreements that paved the way for peaceful elections, yet insecurity and economic woes continue to plague the three nations.
—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 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
Ann Manov,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
So, the civil wars of the 1640s.
—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
25 May 2026
But such a hope was belied by the developments after the cold war ended as civil wars ensued in many parts of the world.
—
Debidatta A. Mahapatra,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Each of these civil wars ended in peace agreements that paved the way for peaceful elections, yet insecurity and economic woes continue to plague the three nations.
—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 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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One consequence of the ensuing wars was the emergence of a new, anti-sectarian, pacifist element in Dutch religious life.
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While drones have introduced groundbreaking changes to how wars are fought on earth, the ability to wield them alongside other weapons largely depends on reach from space.
Noun
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The accord called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a halt to hostilities across the region, including in Lebanon.
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The Israeli military killed at least 47 people in strikes across southern Lebanon on Friday, in the second deadliest day since hostilities flared in early March.
Noun
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Clients should understand whether the advisor is legally obligated to put their interests first, how conflicts are disclosed and whether recommendations are shaped by commissions, proprietary products or outside incentives.
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These conflicts raged on through the pandemic, when the country was generally going insane, and in 2022, when President Joe Biden exercised his right to appoint a new chair, Rios took what was in effect a thankless cleanup job.
Cite this Entry
“Civil wars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20wars. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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