as in civil war
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Recent Examples of holy war
And now religion has raised its ugly head in addresses to American troops about the conflict in Iran being a holy war and part of God’s plan.
—
Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
This may not be surprising to some, but the holy war of words playing out in Mayor Mamdani’s new backyard is partly coming from mothers who not long ago held squarely centrist or even liberal beliefs.
—Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 9 Jan. 2026
The 76ers’ owner, Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment (HBSE), had been in a holy war with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and Comcast over building a standalone NBA arena in Center City.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The mission takes on the solemnity of a holy war, and the conclusion, even if it’s preordained, packs a shocking punch.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for holy war
Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
This may not be surprising to some, but the holy war of words playing out in Mayor Mamdani’s new backyard is partly coming from mothers who not long ago held squarely centrist or even liberal beliefs.
—Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 9 Jan. 2026
The 76ers’ owner, Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment (HBSE), had been in a holy war with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and Comcast over building a standalone NBA arena in Center City.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The mission takes on the solemnity of a holy war, and the conclusion, even if it’s preordained, packs a shocking punch.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for holy war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy war
Noun
-
The pontiff has voiced concern about several armed conflicts, repeatedly calling for peace, including mentioning the civil war raging in Sudan, the Russia-Ukraine war and the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
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The Associated Press reported that Algerian authorities rejected a Vatican request for Leo to visit Médéa to pray at the Tibhirine monastery, the place where seven French Trappist monks were kidnapped and killed May 21, 1996, by Islamic extremists during the country’s civil war.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
12 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
-
Fears that attacks on Iran could trigger a more widespread world war were unfounded.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
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Our local representatives continue to support the head of their party as the world rushes toward another world war.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 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
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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
“Holy war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy%20war. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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