declare war
idiom
: to officially decide to fight or go to war
Congress has the power to declare war on/against other countries.
—often used figurativelyThe state has declared war on illiteracy.
Examples of declare war in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While the Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, the president has the authority to respond to sudden attacks, like predatory incursions or invasions, per the Brennan Center for Justice.
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Ivana Saric, Axios, 16 Mar. 2025
Letters of marque and reprisal are authorized under Article One, Section Eight, Clause 10 of the Constitution—the same clause that gives Congress the power to declare war and also the power to issue these letters of marque.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
The Kaga's namesake was an aircraft carrier that launched the air raid on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which led the U.S. to declare war on Japan.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
The attack, which killed 2,390 American service members and civilians, led the United States to declare war on Japan, as well as later its allies Germany and Italy.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
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Ivana Saric, Axios, 16 Mar. 2025
Letters of marque and reprisal are authorized under Article One, Section Eight, Clause 10 of the Constitution—the same clause that gives Congress the power to declare war and also the power to issue these letters of marque.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
The Kaga's namesake was an aircraft carrier that launched the air raid on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which led the U.S. to declare war on Japan.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
The attack, which killed 2,390 American service members and civilians, led the United States to declare war on Japan, as well as later its allies Germany and Italy.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for declare war
Cite this Entry
“Declare war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/declare%20war. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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