war of words
noun phrase
: an argument in which people or groups criticize and disagree with each other publicly and repeatedly for usually a long time
Rival groups have engaged in a war of words over the new law.
Examples of war of words in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
They got caught up in this war of words that escalated in an unimaginable way over what’s typically a rubber-stamp contract.
—
Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 27 July 2025
The governor of Illinois and one of the state’s biggest employers are engaged in an unusually heated war of words.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025
The current Trump-Musk relationship breakdown could seriously turn the war of words into a material conflict.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
Musk’s departure from the White House in late May was followed by an extraordinary war of words with Trump.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for war of words
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Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 27 July 2025
The governor of Illinois and one of the state’s biggest employers are engaged in an unusually heated war of words.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025
The current Trump-Musk relationship breakdown could seriously turn the war of words into a material conflict.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
Musk’s departure from the White House in late May was followed by an extraordinary war of words with Trump.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for war of words
Cite this Entry
“War of words.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/war%20of%20words. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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