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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Drone warfare blurs traditional front lines The rapid spread of inexpensive drones has increasingly blurred traditional front lines, putting even rear-area bases at risk.
—
Chris Boccia, ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Rapid evolution In the cat-and-mouse game of modern warfare, there is a continual carousel of offensive weapons development and responsive defensive countermeasures.
—Iain Boyd, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
The birth of ‘gunpowder warfare’ can be traced back to the 15th century and the invention of the matchlock gun, the first mechanical firing device.
—Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
Russia is needling Ukraine’s European allies with asymmetrical warfare – sabotage and cyberattacks – to perhaps provoke a wider conflict while imposing costs.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for warfare
Chris Boccia, ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Rapid evolution In the cat-and-mouse game of modern warfare, there is a continual carousel of offensive weapons development and responsive defensive countermeasures.
—Iain Boyd, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
The birth of ‘gunpowder warfare’ can be traced back to the 15th century and the invention of the matchlock gun, the first mechanical firing device.
—Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
Russia is needling Ukraine’s European allies with asymmetrical warfare – sabotage and cyberattacks – to perhaps provoke a wider conflict while imposing costs.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for warfare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warfare
Noun
-
Both massive aircraft can act as the president’s emergency operations hub in times of national security threats, such as a nuclear war.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
When the war in Gaza erupted, the Houthis fired ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, in solidarity with the Palestinians, and imposed their chokehold on Red Sea shipping lanes.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Devoted fans will catch every clever nod, while newcomers can enjoy the romance, rivalry, and Regency ridiculousness without the multi-volume commitment.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The long-simmering rivalry between Sunni and Shiite Muslims erupted into a civil war that killed tens of thousands of civilians.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Gender care strife notwithstanding, Frias’ tenure at Rady has been positive.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Challenging life circumstances—think divorce, job loss, or financial strife—can take a drastic toll on their mental health.—
Sam Manzella,
Flow Space,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The war inside The game was ultimately decided by the battle inside the paint as TCU’s frontline of Punch and junior center Xavier Edmonds scrapped and clawed with Kansas’ talented big men Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
-
He was involved in multiple relegation battles and believes having the right mindset is key.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The calls also revealed some staff discord.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
There hasn’t been any significant drama or discord like last year with Rafael Devers, and outside of a handful of non-roster invitees, there haven’t been any major injuries suffered during camp, either.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The matchup between the two incumbent Republicans highlights a greater struggle of generational change that both parties are facing.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
-
For many in the middle and lower tiers, simply staying afloat now feels like a struggle.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran toward Turkey on Monday, the second such incident, raising the risk the military alliance could be drawn more directly into the conflict.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
As conflict destabilizes parts of the Middle East, the ripple effects are already reaching the region’s luxury economy, which has become a promising growth engine for a struggling global sector.—
Tara Donaldson,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That is to say that the way the current system is set up distorts the healthcare economy in ways that don’t allow for much price competition, with ever-rising insurance premiums as the result.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Several regional nations have recently become key targets in a great power competition between the US and China for greater control of the continent’s resources.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Warfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warfare. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
