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
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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Kallas is also widely known in European politics for a strong security and defense posture, and outspoken positions on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 29 Dec. 2025
For once he was bothered by the many abuses that the warring grandfathers who lived above them hurled at each other through the night.
—Kanak Kapur, New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for war
Noun
The relationship deteriorated in the intervening years over growing concern about Chinese espionage, Beijing’s support for Russia in the Ukraine war and its crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, the former British colony.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Kallas is also widely known in European politics for a strong security and defense posture, and outspoken positions on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
The film’s British production, and its British filmmaker, can’t help but occupy a large section of the movie’s negative space, inviting questions about who and what exactly is being satirized (or perhaps patronized) in this tale of warring desert nations.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 29 Dec. 2025
For once he was bothered by the many abuses that the warring grandfathers who lived above them hurled at each other through the night.
—Kanak Kapur, New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for war
Noun
-
Russia's bigger army has managed to capture about 20% of Ukraine since hostilities began in 2014 and its full-scale invasion of 2022.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Russia’s bigger army has managed to capture about 20% of Ukraine since hostilities began in 2014 and its full-scale invasion of 2022.—
Kamila Hrabchuk,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Experts say several factors have driven the sharp rise over the past year, including persistent concerns about inflation, ongoing global conflicts, and the possibility of interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
This was in direct conflict with the Hatch Act, which restricts federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In a city where detentions have largely played out on the streets, Homan’s comments have highlighted a battle that has been unfolding in the background.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The exercise of power, not surprisingly, contributed to the restlessness of a busy mind that waged battles against a committed opposition.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Graham, in particular, has been on a war path over the negotiations, accusing Republicans of not fighting hard enough to reclaim the narrative on immigration after the death of Alex Pretti last weekend.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski said Lemon plans to plead innocent and fight the charges in Minnesota.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Prices for precious metals have been soaring as investors look for safer places to park their money amid threats of tariffs, still-high inflation, political strife and mountains of debt for governments worldwide.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Prices for precious metals have been soaring as investors look for safer places to park their money amid threats of tariffs, still-high inflation, political strife and mountains of debt for governments worldwide.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That sets Chavez and Crump up to be the future of this rivalry, which dates back to 1979.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Jan. 2026
-
This transformed a political rivalry into a blood feud.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But Warden contends that many of the actual workers in the Bay retained their left-leaning politics.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Redrawing districts again could prompt a new legal challenge and lead a court to impose districts, Ferguson contends.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Storylines like this, in our age of escalating eat-the-rich sentiment, allow viewers to vicariously enjoy beautiful homes and high-maintenance bodies while also fantasizing about (or, for more comfortable audiences, safely exploring fears of) class warfare.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Optimized for long endurance missions with containerized payload integration, including electronic warfare, fires, C-C5ISRT (Counter-Command, Control, Computing, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting) and contested logistics.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“War.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/war. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
