man-of-war

variants also man-o'-war
Definition of man-of-warnext

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 man-of-war Nassau had no men-of-war ships, and Trott’s stone fort was still a building site. Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024 My hundred-and-forty-foot man-of-war sought to make the first mission to the South Pole, a feat that would bring pride to England. Mike O’Brien, The New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2023 Its lyrics, about a sailor bidding goodbye to his lover before boarding a man-of-war bound for England, were written not by Mr. Whittaker but by a British silversmith who responded to a radio contest in which Mr. Whittaker invited listeners to send in verses, with the best put to music. Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023 Just as airpower eventually killed off the great men-of-war that had ruled the waves for millennia, so cyberweapons might strip other weapons or tactics of their utility. Kenneth M. Pollack, Foreign Affairs, 19 Apr. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for man-of-war
Noun
  • The make-shift steamer move is brilliant.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Searchers have discovered the wreck of a luxury steamer that sank in a Lake Michigan gale in the late 19th century, completing a quest that began almost 60 years ago.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • These preyed upon American merchantmen who either payed tribute or showed forged British passes.
    Thomas Wendel, National Review, 4 July 2019
  • The Navy already has ships in the fleet that are former merchantmen.
    Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 10 Jan. 2019
Noun
  • The United Kingdom is deploying its largest warship to the Arctic in order to deter Russian aggression in the region, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced.
    Zach LaChance, The Washington Examiner, 14 Feb. 2026
  • The dashboard looks like a sci-fi warship.
    Byron Hurd, The Drive, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Victor Rillet, a 21-year-old Frenchman, disembarked the steamship Washington in New York in October 1864, carrying the kind of optimism that fuels both great innovation and spectacular disappointment.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Tom Townsend, a former Putnam County school superintendent, said his family operated steamship tours showcasing the Ocklawaha before construction of the dam.
    David Bauerlein, Florida Times-Union, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • It's then sent by barge to West Elizabeth.
    Mamie Bah, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
  • The parents of the three Miami Yacht Club summer campers who were killed last summer when a 60-foot barge slammed into their sailboat sued the company that owns the barge, alleging negligence and irresponsible hiring.
    Milena Malaver, Sun Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • It was converted to a bulk freighter in 1869.
    George Petras, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
  • According to air cargo data provider Rotate, freighter capacity declined 10 percent globally week over week, as of Sunday.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • In October, a Russian Su-30 fighter accompanied by an Il-78 refueling tanker violated Lithuanian airspace – an unmistakable signal of endurance and deliberate mission planning.
    Frederic Lemieux, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
  • According to Davie fire officials, the crash involved two vehicles, including a fuel tanker, in the westbound lanes of I-595 east of Davie Road.
    Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The ferryboat was on the go all day long, covering more miles in a day than the barge would cover in a century.
    Eric DuVall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025
  • One foggy morning this spring, a ferryboat traversed the choppy waters between lower Manhattan and Governors Island.
    Adam Iscoe, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Man-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/man-of-war. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.

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