warhorse

noun

war·​horse ˈwȯr-ˌhȯrs How to pronounce warhorse (audio)
1
: a horse used in war : charger
2
: a person with long experience in a field
especially : a veteran soldier or public person (such as a politician)
3
: something (such as a work of art or musical composition) that has become overly familiar or hackneyed due to much repetition in the standard repertoire

Examples of warhorse in a Sentence

the Democratic warhorse in the Senate a general who describes himself as an old warhorse a new production of an old warhorse
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, that warhorse of English traditionalism, is mentioned six times, and his plangent music—invoking a lost, idyllic England; a greener, more pleasant land—could easily be the novel’s soundtrack. Charles McGrath, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2024 At 33, Watt is young enough not to be tired of even the most familiar rock radio warhorses. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2024 All those slick remakes of beloved old properties, all those paint-by-numbers genre warhorses with beloved movie stars in the lead. Constance Grady, Vox, 16 Sep. 2024 Every street in Hollywood has its own history and its own horror story, and while that’s not exactly an original sentiment, West & Goth know how to make that warhorse lament shriek as well as sing. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for warhorse 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of warhorse was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near warhorse

Cite this Entry

“Warhorse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warhorse. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

war-horse

noun
ˈwȯ(ə)r-ˌhȯ(ə)rs
1
: a horse used in war : charger
2
: a veteran soldier or politician
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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