war 1 of 2

noun

ˈwȯr How to pronounce war (audio)
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

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2
as in conflict
a lack of agreement or harmony the siblings always seemed to be at war with one another

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3
as in battle
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another only the latest round in the never-ending class war

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war

2 of 2

verb

as in to fight

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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
With front lines frozen, infighting among pro-government factions — which had never been the happiest of allies — broke out into open war, causing a still-unresolved rift between Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Kinnaman recounted taking photos of Baghdad Central actor Zuaiter on the High Value Target set as if both actors had stepped into history two decades after the Iraq war. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
Written and directed by Denmark’s Oscar-winning Anders Thomas Jensen, its warring brothers are played by Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Mads Mikkelsen. — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026 Silicon Valley’s warring factions are pouring money into congressional primaries. — Nitasha Tiku, Washington Post, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for war
  1. hostilities
  2. conflict
  3. battle
  4. fight
  5. strife
  6. rivalry
  7. contend
  8. warfare
Noun
  • Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a president must cease all hostilities abroad after 60 days if there is no congressional declaration of war.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The Houthis launched one of their biggest attacks since hostilities restarted on Thursday, attacking across at least 20 locations.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of hostilities
Noun
  • With the whizbang action long in the series’ rearview, this quiet road trip proves its emotional centerpiece, as Noah confesses both his true nature and his desire to be better — the conflict of his programming.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The decision marks a dramatic reversal, after Ethiopian and Eritrean forces united in fighting the TPLF during the previous conflict.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • Chinese media reported that PLA forces deployed Type 99A main battle tanks alongside drones, uncrewed ground vehicles and helicopters.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Alabama and Mississippi State battle, and Underdog is offering new users a chance to use promo code FOXNEWS to earn up to $100 in bonus bets on a $5 wager.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of battle
Verb
  • Kosovo has criticized the verdicts as unjust, maintaining that the KLA, which Thaci had led before entering politics, fought against Serbian oppression.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • His emphasis on fighting crime, his anti-left agenda and his confrontations with the Supreme Federal Court and Brazil’s political establishment directly appeal to issues that have mobilized Bolsonaro’s base for years.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of fight
Noun
  • After conquering a country in ruins and containing sectarian strife, Syria’s postrevolutionary government is facing its most serious crisis yet – at the pumps.
    — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The playoffs will conclude an eventful 2026 season fans at one point worried would either be abbreviated or eliminated entirely by labor strife.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of strife
Noun
  • Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel, who ripped off their rivalry bit from Fred Allen and Jack Benny!
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • At least for one day, one of the league’s great rivalries returns — with Kansas City remaining undefeated into its early bye.
    — Pete Sweeney October 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of rivalry
Verb
  • Georgia Power is adding an unprecedented amount of new electricity to its power grid, much of which will come from gas plants, which critics contend will produce more planet-warming greenhouse gases.
    — Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The color line As in Germany, historians contend that Southern Jews who wanted reforms, which wound up making worship more similar to a Protestant service, were responding to the overwhelmingly Christian makeup of the society around them.
    — Ashley Walters, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of contend
Noun
  • Built for multiple combat missions The approximately 9,700-ton destroyer is designed to support air defense, ballistic missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare missions.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
  • And just as RPOs seem to be spurring a new phase of space warfare, the possibilities for their beneficial, peaceful use are proliferating, too.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of warfare

Phrases Containing war

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wants
war
war (against)
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Cite this Entry

“War.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/war. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on war

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about war

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