holy war

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 holy war While Tedesco calls for a holy war in response to the attack, Benitez takes a different approach, declaring that violence should not be met with more violence. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2025 But as Paul starts to meet the prophetic expectations of his most fervent followers, there are signs of a holy war that could have terrible consequences. Scott Tobias, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025 Absolute Dominion takes place In the year 2063 AD, when the world faces catastrophe as zealots and extremists wage a global holy war in the name of spiritual superiority. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2025 If anything, Russia’s rhetoric about the war has become more annihilationist, invoking the Russian Orthodox Church and suggesting that the conflict is something like a holy war, with existential consequences. Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 21 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for holy war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy war
Noun
  • The group formed in the '80s during Lebanon's civil war to fight against two Israeli invasions of Lebanese territory, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 24 June 2025
  • South Sudan endured a bloody years-long civil war shortly after gaining independence in 2011, and the United Nations warns violence has escalated in recent months.
    June 23, CBS News, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • In addition, there are at least two notable cold wars, between the U.S. and China, and between the U.S. and Iran.
    John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • Orson Welles’s 1955 cold war thriller Mr. Arkadin is the key to Wes Anderson’s psychological puzzle The Phoenician Scheme.
    Armond White, National Review, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • In both world wars, the key to victory was unbeatable stamina.
    Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Five years was serious business, the length of world wars and Soviet economic plans.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
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
  • And as always, there’s no guarantee that a limited war would stay limited.
    Joshua Keating, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

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Cite this Entry

“Holy war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy%20war. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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