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

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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 Because Democrats have spent the past 15 years desperately trying to stave off conservative legislation, the party has had little room for internecine warfare. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026 Zelensky awards Musk Ukraine’s Order of Freedom, honoring Starlink’s role as a lifeline for Ukrainian forces since 2022 and underscoring how private tech now shapes modern warfare and diplomacy. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The return of diplomats to their posts would suggest Washington is not anticipating a return to all-out warfare. — Chloe Taylor,spencer Kimball, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026 The majority of the deaths came from just two strikes, ranking them among the deadliest for civilians the Pentagon has acknowledged in modern warfare, said Airwars, a British watchdog that tracks civilian harm from military operations. — Megan Rose, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 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
  • Alongside analysts and external observers warning that Russia’s full-scale invasion could soon enter a more dangerous phase, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to escalate the war.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Iran is expanding its defense capabilities, an Iranian army commander said Wednesday, after much of the country’s equipment was degraded by US-Israeli strikes in the early days of the war.
    — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of war
Noun
  • At least until kick-off, club rivalry will be set aside; there will be northern English empathy.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Week 1 is full of national showdowns and nonregion rivalries.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of rivalry
Noun
  • That’s a very helpful insight that will, hopefully, save the family from future strife.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For as productive as Marte has been for Arizona, however, his time in a Diamondbacks uniform, particularly over the past few seasons, has been marked by strife with the organization, both internal and external.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of strife
Noun
  • The twin springs that gave the Revolutionary War battle its name are no more, inundated by the 1940s project that flooded the Santee River basin for hydroelectric power and flood control.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Outrageousness seems to be the point of these battles, which have no apparent criteria, judges, or rules.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • Officials say the attacks are intended to undermine support for Ukraine, spread fear and discord in European societies and drain investigative resources.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The disconnect between intent and impact could be sowing discord.
    — Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of discord
Noun
  • Yet after initially acknowledging the economic struggle, the government once again accused the protesters of being foreign agents before unleashing one of the worst crackdowns in the Islamic Republic’s history.
    — Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • That ambiguity is echoed in Banks’ score, which takes on the tone of a lament and a celebration, frustration and hope, struggle and liberation, the quest for transcendence in the face of the challenges posed by daunting inequities.
    — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggle
Noun
  • Meanwhile, outside the five districts that Democrats hope to switch, there are safely Democratic districts where progressive candidates are jousting with mainstream rivals, a subset of the national party’s ideological conflict.
    — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Add to this the conflict in the Middle East driving up gas prices, and the macroeconomic backdrop to back-to-school shopping is hardly optimal.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • Combined with recent updates across several companies in the AI industry, the AI competition appears to have entered a new phase centered on cost-efficiency.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Horse racing revenue in Illinois had been dwindling for years due to competition from casinos, the lottery, and video and sports gambling.
    — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 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 30 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on warfare

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about warfare

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