as in war
a a state or period of fighting between groups of people in the same country
a region that has had many civil wars
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 civil war
Analysts, including those at the ISP-M, say China has intermittently backed both Myanmar's ruling military, and the rebels that military is battling in the country's civil war, depending on its varying economic and security interests.
—
CBS News, 12 June 2026
So has the civil war that continues to rage in Myanmar despite the election.
—Wai Moe, NPR, 12 June 2026
Not only was there a civil war, but inflation reached 2,000%, and the currency was rapidly depreciating.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
In July 1936, at the beginning of Spain’s civil war, anti-clericalist anarchist groups stormed the basilica and set fire to the crypt and Gaudí’s workshop, destroying many of his plans.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for civil war
CBS News, 12 June 2026
So has the civil war that continues to rage in Myanmar despite the election.
—Wai Moe, NPR, 12 June 2026
Not only was there a civil war, but inflation reached 2,000%, and the currency was rapidly depreciating.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
In July 1936, at the beginning of Spain’s civil war, anti-clericalist anarchist groups stormed the basilica and set fire to the crypt and Gaudí’s workshop, destroying many of his plans.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for civil war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil war
Noun
-
And part of it is Congress' already historically slim voting margins – margins, by the way, that won't be getting any more cushion amid the gerrymandering wars.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
Pinkas said that before the war, Iran was isolated under sanctions that choked its oil exports, dealing blows to its economy.—
Pamela Avila,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
The report, based on in-depth interviews with single-family office principals and CIOs across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, captures a generational cold war playing out inside the world’s most secretive financial institutions.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
-
Ahead of season 3, EW has launched three motion covers, each one starring a contender for the crown — as the show's cold war escalates into literal dragon fire.—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Horkheimer, amid the wreckage of world war, lost faith in progress; his dialectic negated one construct after another.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
What the fear-itself speech heralded, then, was a fresh formulation of the American project rather than its demise, reimagining it for the challenges of economic upheaval and, eventually, world war.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
In other words, the current combination of US political tensions and global conflicts are driving more US nationals to seek new options overseas.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
-
Notably, the Vikings haven’t been able to create this conflict.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Commentary and opinions Bass clears the first hurdle, but if Pratt holds off Raman, the mayoral race could be a holy war, writes columnist Steve Lopez.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
By the conclusion of the second film, Paul had aligned with the native Fremen people of Arrakis to successfully defeat House Harkonnen and began a holy war against the Empire.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In contrast, China has made targeted investments intended to give it an advantage in a quick, limited war, while keeping its overall defense spending relatively modest: Beijing’s defense spending has risen from five percent of U.S. levels in 1995 to 32 percent in 2017.—
Oriana Skylar Mastro,
Foreign Affairs,
20 May 2025
-
Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in a limited war since last October, but Israeli forces have significantly escalated the scope of their attacks since the beginning of September in an attempt to force Hezbollah to stop its attacks on northern Israel.—
Mike Brest,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
30 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Civil war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20war. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
