civil wars

Definition of civil warsnext
plural of civil war

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 wars 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil wars
Noun
  • While Iran has set ending the wars in Lebanon and the region as a condition for talks with the United States, Lebanon insists on representing itself.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • New wars are sustaining old energy regimes, driving price volatility through the same fossil-fuel supply chains the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program was designed to buffer against half a century ago.
    Diana Hernández, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Thanks to the religious hostilities that burst open in the late sixteenth century, the prevailing hue is blood.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The lull follows a ceasefire agreement reached Tuesday, when Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week pause in hostilities in an effort to end the war involving the United States and Israel against Iran, which began February 28.
    Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The leaders of China and Spain on Tuesday pledged to strengthen their relations and work to safeguard multilateralism at a time when the world is being impacted by various conflicts, including the recent war in Iran, during a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • The stakes are high — suffice it to say, the tip is on the line — but the substance of the conflicts is absolutely ridiculous.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Civil wars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20wars. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster