as in cold war
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Recent Examples of limited war
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
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
Western policymakers in Washington also believe that Iran is relatively satisfied with the more limited war’s outcome so far: The Hamas attacks seriously undermined diplomacy meant to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
—Matt Bradley, NBC News, 14 Dec. 2023
But the fight to capture it risks putting Israel on a collision course with the Biden administration, which has called on Israel to minimize civilian casualties and ease humanitarian deprivation in Gaza, and to hew to a more limited war aim of expelling Hamas from power.
—Gordon Lubold, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2023
Many scholars panned the book, believing its 34-year-old author had overestimated the nation’s ability to keep limited war limited.
—David E. Sanger, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
And as always, there’s no guarantee that a limited war would stay limited.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Oriana Skylar Mastro, Foreign Affairs, 20 May 2025
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
Western policymakers in Washington also believe that Iran is relatively satisfied with the more limited war’s outcome so far: The Hamas attacks seriously undermined diplomacy meant to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
—Matt Bradley, NBC News, 14 Dec. 2023
But the fight to capture it risks putting Israel on a collision course with the Biden administration, which has called on Israel to minimize civilian casualties and ease humanitarian deprivation in Gaza, and to hew to a more limited war aim of expelling Hamas from power.
—Gordon Lubold, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2023
Many scholars panned the book, believing its 34-year-old author had overestimated the nation’s ability to keep limited war limited.
—David E. Sanger, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
And as always, there’s no guarantee that a limited war would stay limited.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for limited war
Noun
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Then, starting in late 2023, three events turned a cold war between the police and the city into an open conflict.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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The world is facing threats not of a cold war or just a trade war, but a capital war where money is being weaponized, according to billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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More than 40% of those questioned also said a world war will erupt in the coming 10 years, as more countries will acquire nuclear weapons.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Philip Noel-Baker’s legacy Eight more Olympics had taken place since Noel-Baker won his silver medal, the games interrupted by yet another world war.—
Amy Crawford,
Popular Science,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The book fair was first held in Syria in 1985 and stopped for several years after the country’s civil war began in March 2011.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Lebanon’s reconstruction drive after the 1975-1990 civil war was fueled by a borrowing binge that ultimately proved unsustainable for a country hampered by endemic corruption, toxic politics, and frequent conflicts with Israel.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Limited war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limited%20war. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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