state of war
noun phrase
1
a
: a state of actual armed hostilities regardless of a formal declaration of war
b
: a legal state created and ended by official declaration regardless of actual armed hostilities and usually characterized by operation of the rules of war
2
: the period of time during which a state of war is in effect
Examples of state of war in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Last year, Kim abandoned North Korea's historical goal of reunification with the South, which—despite a 1953 ceasefire—technically remains in a state of war.
—
Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
But then, the only alternative to a permanent state of war is a political solution resting on two states living side by side with security guarantees.
—Vivienne Walt, Time, 10 June 2025
This film’s anthropological interest in how people are shaped by an ongoing immersion in a state of war is simultaneously deeply personally felt and conveyed with a sense of analytical remove.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 25 May 2025
Although an armistice was reached to halt hostilities, the Korean Peninsula technically remains in a state of war as no peace treaty was concluded.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
The declaration of a state of war in Israel in October 2023 and the start of Israeli military operations in Gaza shortly after heralded a fundamental shift in this already precarious status.
—Asad Ghanem, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2025
With Hamas prioritizing terrorism over governance, Gaza has remained in a state of war and siege.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2025
Syria and Israel have been in a state of war since Israel's creation in 1948 and have never had diplomatic ties.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024
My kudos to Kelly and Wes for being able to keep in that extreme state of war emotionally throughout that scene.
—William Earl, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024
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Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
But then, the only alternative to a permanent state of war is a political solution resting on two states living side by side with security guarantees.
—Vivienne Walt, Time, 10 June 2025
This film’s anthropological interest in how people are shaped by an ongoing immersion in a state of war is simultaneously deeply personally felt and conveyed with a sense of analytical remove.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 25 May 2025
Although an armistice was reached to halt hostilities, the Korean Peninsula technically remains in a state of war as no peace treaty was concluded.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
The declaration of a state of war in Israel in October 2023 and the start of Israeli military operations in Gaza shortly after heralded a fundamental shift in this already precarious status.
—Asad Ghanem, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2025
With Hamas prioritizing terrorism over governance, Gaza has remained in a state of war and siege.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2025
Syria and Israel have been in a state of war since Israel's creation in 1948 and have never had diplomatic ties.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024
My kudos to Kelly and Wes for being able to keep in that extreme state of war emotionally throughout that scene.
—William Earl, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“State of war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/state%20of%20war. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
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