as in civil war
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Recent Examples of holy war
While Tedesco calls for a holy war in response to the attack, Benitez takes a different approach, declaring that violence should not be met with more violence.
—
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2025
After the September 11 attacks, evangelical American missionaries followed military tanks into Afghanistan and Iraq to convert Muslims as part of a holy war.
—Rozina Ali, The New York Review of Books, 31 Oct. 2024
Many Russians will come to believe that Russia is fighting a holy war against the West and NATO, and that Western sanctions are designed to make ordinary Russians suffer.
—Maxim Mironov, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2022
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
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2025
After the September 11 attacks, evangelical American missionaries followed military tanks into Afghanistan and Iraq to convert Muslims as part of a holy war.
—Rozina Ali, The New York Review of Books, 31 Oct. 2024
Many Russians will come to believe that Russia is fighting a holy war against the West and NATO, and that Western sanctions are designed to make ordinary Russians suffer.
—Maxim Mironov, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2022
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
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The refugee crisis that followed—over 1 million Iraqis ultimately fled into Syria—contributed directly to the Syrian civil war that convulsed European politics throughout the 2010s.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
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Syria endured more than a decade of mass violence, displacement and repression during a devastating civil war.—
Arnaud Kurze,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The theory posited that wars in the post-cold war era would be fought along religious divides, bringing the West and the Islamic states such as Iran to clash.—
Debidatta A. Mahapatra,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
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Swedish pop star Zara Larsson is apparently locked in a cold war with one user who keeps swapping out the photo on her page.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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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 12 Mar. 2026.
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