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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conflict
a lack of agreement or harmony
the siblings always seemed to be at war with one another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in battle
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
only the latest round in the never-ending class war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to fight
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of war
Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Christine brings deep expertise and clarity to complex, fast-moving stories, from inflation and government shutdowns to the global impact of war and the forces shaping the modern economy.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
With the war in Iraq raging, the 84-year-old pope, weakened by Parkinson’s disease and less than a year from his death, condemned the war in Iraq with Bush sitting right next to him.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Christine brings deep expertise and clarity to complex, fast-moving stories, from inflation and government shutdowns to the global impact of war and the forces shaping the modern economy.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 15 Apr. 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
-
Thanks to the religious hostilities that burst open in the late sixteenth century, the prevailing hue is blood.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The lull follows a ceasefire agreement reached Tuesday, when Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week pause in hostilities in an effort to end the war involving the United States and Israel against Iran, which began February 28.—
Dalia Abdelwahab,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The leaders of China and Spain on Tuesday pledged to strengthen their relations and work to safeguard multilateralism at a time when the world is being impacted by various conflicts, including the recent war in Iran, during a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The conflict had a 1% negative impact on organic growth in the quarter, LVMH said in a statement.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Navy has 16 warships — 11 destroyers, three amphibious assault ships, an aircraft carrier and a littoral combat ship — in the Middle East out of a battle force of roughly 300 total warships.—
Konstantin Toropin,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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The Navy has 16 warships — 11 destroyers, three amphibious assault ships, an aircraft carrier, and a littoral combat ship — in the Middle East out of a battle force of roughly 300 total warships.—
Konstantin Toropin,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Like there was a demon in his lungs, fighting the last bit of banishment.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
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She was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa — an eye disease that causes vision loss — and lupus, a disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s healthy tissues and organs instead of fighting germs, according to court records.—
Chase Jordan
April 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Make an effort to get along with family members to avoid domestic strife.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
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The best investing strategy during periods of geopolitical strife is to have no strategy at all, said Jeff Sommer in The New York Times.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Penguins showed a video tribute honoring Ovechkin and his longstanding rivalry with Crosby during a television timeout in the second period.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The couple has previously playfully acknowledged their rivalry.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The jury heard lawyers describe a fatal confrontation, with prosecutors saying the defendants attacked and killed Ascaridis, and defense attorneys contending that Ascaridis was the aggressor.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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Both bodies contend that this gender lens is important for understanding the full scope of experiences and vulnerabilities not just of women and girls, but also LGBTQ+ individuals and men and boys during conflict.—
Jenna Norosky,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Other major targets include an Indian firm specializing in surveillance and electronic warfare, an AI solutions company, and a global web design agency.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
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Over more than four years of Russia’s invasion and highly technological drone warfare, Kyiv has built considerable expertise in countering Shahed drones in particular, which Russia uses regularly on Ukrainian territory.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“War.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/war. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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