war 1 of 2

Definition of warnext
1
as in hostilities
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups the war was the result of ethnic tensions that had been building in the region for decades

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

war

2 of 2

verb

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 war
Noun
The Haber-Bosch process, which enabled the mass production of both fertilizer and explosives, was invented in 1909, five years before war shattered Europe. Shayla Love, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026 Gory stories of immigrants causing crime and the culture wars. Brittney Melton, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
It’s expected to commence once details about Gaza’s governance are hashed out by the warring sides and third-party mediators. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Jan. 2026 If the country had sustained a center and not fallen into warring camps, here is what would have happened in the last year. Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 10 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for war
Noun
  • After the king attempted to arrest lawmakers in the House of Commons in 1642, hostilities erupted into the English Civil War, which ended with victory for the parliamentary forces of Oliver Cromwell.
    Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Israel’s ability to weaken major non-state actors aligned with Tehran, including Lebanese Hezbollah and Gaza’s Hamas, opened the door for direct hostilities between the two archrivals.
    Alexander Langlois, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty Images Four years of war between Russia and Ukraine are beginning to take their toll on the countries' demographics as the conflict puts women off — or prevents them — from starting or expanding their families.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Europe’s is a false economy, spending less now, but risking spending far more if the conflict spreads in the future.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The program currently remains in another legal battle, with people able to renew their status but no new applications accepted.
    Mathew Miranda February 26, Sacbee.com, 27 Feb. 2026
  • The battle pitted Ellison against Netflix, the industry’s biggest and most important player.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The designation, which Anthropic will fight in court, could become a serious problem for the startup, which earns its revenue through enterprise software sales to companies that might currently or one day want to work with the military in some capacity.
    Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Prosecutors are fighting to prevent Cox from being able to cross examine witnesses.
    Amy DeLaura, The Washington Examiner, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The film ruminates on guilt, familial strife, and trauma with Ball’s signature bittersweet touch, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
  • When the nation is split because American values are in question or disregarded, strife ensues.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Camden, who came to Cal as a transfer from Delaware, knew enough about the rivalry to get things right, almost.
    Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Texas State's focus remains on the present, but Friday night, fans saw the seeds of a conference rivalry being sewn.
    Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Manuelian contends Fathizadeh had momentarily gone to the kitchen to turn off a stove and stir oatmeal, and did not realize two of the children had gone to the pool area, where the pool gate was usually locked.
    Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
  • The lawsuit further contends that the current special education reimbursement rate is unconstitutionally deficient.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The pilot and his electronic warfare officer also struggled with a wet runway at Naval Air Station North Island during their second attempt to land, when winds were creating a tailwind on the landing runway.
    Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
  • The key driver of this growth in defense is drones, a technology that is rapidly advancing warfare and could have ripple effects on other commercial technologies down the line.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“War.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/war. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on war

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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