warfare

noun

ˈwȯr-ˌfer How to pronounce warfare (audio)
Definition of warfarenext
1
as in war
a lack of agreement or harmony that troubled household seems to be almost constantly in a state of warfare

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another companies engaged in constant warfare for dominance in the market for smart phones and tablets

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 warfare In a milestone for naval warfare, a Ukrainian sea drone even used a machine gun to sink a Russian kamikaze drone boat carrying explosives in September 2026. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 6 Oct. 2026 Furthermore, the report highlights electronic warfare, such as jamming, in addition to lasers or high-power microwaves meant to blind or damage satellite sensors. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 Stubb cautions against overreacting to Russia’s escalating campaign of hybrid warfare inside Europe. — Josh Rogin, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026 The experience of Operation ‘Vivaldi’ has demonstrated that the systematic replacement of human personnel with robots is changing the paradigm of modern warfare. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for warfare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warfare
  1. war
  2. rivalry
  3. strife
  4. battle
  5. discord
  6. struggle
  7. conflict
  8. competition
Noun
  • Whether the military was properly prepared for treating its wounded in the current Iran war has become a sharp point of contention.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Dima Putiata, the former Ukrainian soldier, says what started in this war has already spread to other conflicts.
    — Greg Myre, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of war
Noun
  • And allowing the top seeds to select their opponents in the first two rounds would create compelling storylines, intensify existing rivalries and create new ones.
    — Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Better still, they could’ve been forced to navigate a professional rivalry if, say, Roy is expected to support Chelsea’s women’s club.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of rivalry
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
  • 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
Noun
  • If the histrionics coming out of Washington are any indication, the discord won’t abate soon.
    — Chris Park, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Since France's July 2024 snap election delivered no parliamentary majority, budget disputes have sparked political discord, with two administrations being ousted in no-confidence votes.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of discord
Noun
  • Together, the songs take longtime Prine fans and new followers more deeply into his vivid approach to songwriting, which gave voice to the lives, emotions, struggles and celebrations of everyday people.
    — Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The heat is sweltering, mosquitoes buzz around the apartment and routine tasks are a constant struggle.
    — Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of struggle
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
  • There’s a lot more competition now, especially with the celebrity beauty brands and the indie or niche brands that are blowing up on TikTok, which is a super popular platform for discovering new beauty products.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The report singles out Japan, women’s competitions and homegrown stars as the areas most likely to draw competing bids.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of competition

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Cite this Entry

“Warfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warfare. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on warfare

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about warfare

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