1
as in hostilities
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups
the war was the result of ethnic tensions that had been building in the region for decades
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2
as in conflict
a lack of agreement or harmony
the siblings always seemed to be at war with one another
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3
as in battle
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
only the latest round in the never-ending class war
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as in to fight
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of war
Owen Tedford, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Such actions would make the 2018 trade war look minuscule.
—Felix Salmon, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024
Reuters — At least 127 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Sudan on Monday and Tuesday by barrel bombs and shelling from the warring sides, rights activists said.
—Reuters, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for war 
Noun
Biden reduced the emphasis on tariffs and a trade war left by President-elect Donald Trump and increased the attention on a tech war, which semiconductors were at the heart of.
—Owen Tedford, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Such actions would make the 2018 trade war look minuscule.
—Felix Salmon, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
It wasn’t shot down—a promising sign of a brief, if unofficial, cessation of total hostility between the warring sides.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024
Reuters — At least 127 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Sudan on Monday and Tuesday by barrel bombs and shelling from the warring sides, rights activists said.
—Reuters, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for war
Noun
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Security guarantees for Ukraine that are directly tied to the cessation of hostilities can advance all three of these objectives.Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2024
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But Israel's military plans for a major offensive in Gaza may reshape the course of the conflict, depending on the outcome of talks and possible further hostilities.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Over time, this dynamic erodes trust and breeds unnecessary friction in your interactions, to the point that others notice the unstated conflict.David Nour, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
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However, tariffs alone might not suffice to prevent conflict, requiring Trump to pair them with military and diplomatic strategies to ensure regional stability.John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Osbourne didn't share much about her treatment, but this update comes on the heels of her recent battle with a high fever over the holidays.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
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While the legal battle is ongoing with the Swiss high court (and likely to be prolonged), Chiles reflected in November on the impact of the controversy.Caroline Price, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Despite having a pre-existing heart condition, Gold fought his way through the drifts to bring food to the train.Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2025
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These same groups have for years fought against delisting the bears, arguing that Western states like Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana are unable to manage grizzlies responsibly.Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The workers at the largest ski resort in the U.S. ended their nearly two-week strike, which caused skiing delays and consumer strife during the busy holiday season, last week, The New York Times reported.Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 13 Jan. 2025
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In both cases, the bag now objectively symbolizes class strife.Aarushi Bhandari, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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They are scheduled to renew their rivalry in 2025 in the boxing ring.Brian Mazique, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
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The simmering geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and China has made supply chains more vulnerable to disruption—heightening the importance of this mineral race even further.Duncan Money / Made by History, TIME, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Moreover, many thought leaders and AI evangelists contend that predictive AI delivers greater returns than genAI.Eric Siegel, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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It should be noted, too, that Houston wants to contend in 2025 and is still in search of another leverage reliever, even with Pressly still on the roster.Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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European Union rattled again Years after financial crisis drove a wedge in the European bloc, and nearly five years after Brexit, the European Union is facing a new sign of internal discord: The 27-member bloc has been a stalwart supporter of Ukraine, but unity is fraying.Philipp Jenne and Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
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Ryan Reynolds Hints at His Mindset in First Post Since Wife Blake Lively Filed Complaint Against Justin Baldoni Lively filed her complaint months after rumors of behind-the-scenes discord between her and Baldoni, 40, began emerging in August.Jen Juneau, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near war
Cite this Entry
“War.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/war. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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