civil war

noun

Definition of civil warnext
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

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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 In eastern Spain, ordnance left over from the country’s civil war almost a century ago poses an additional threat. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 July 2026 The United States’ contribution to ending Europe’s two civil wars fostered American confidence and, by the mid-Forties, declarations of an American century. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 Guterres’ visit comes as Syria is trying to recover from the civil war that broke out in March 2011 and killed nearly half a million people, causing widespread destruction that will cost tens of billions of dollars to rebuild. — Ghaith Alsayed, Fortune, 27 July 2026 The civil war, in which famine and fighting killed hundreds of thousands, has been paused by a ceasefire since ⁠2022. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for civil war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil war
  1. war
  2. cold war
  3. world war
  4. conflict
  5. holy war
  6. limited war
Noun
  • However, the ruling has tremendous implications for regional politics--and for any future war between the United States and China.
    — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • Shell’s latest quarterly profits soared to their second-highest levels in the company’s history as the US-Iran war caused a surge in global oil prices.
    — Salma Arafa, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Definition of war
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
Definition of cold war
Noun
  • Louis' boxing matches with Schmeling were viewed as pivotal international events in the context of the brewing world war with Nazi Germany.
    — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of world war
Noun
  • The Iranian military fired six missiles on Jordan today, according to the Jordan Armed Forces, as the regional conflict expands.
    — Arpita Dasika, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • Lario stressed that hunger and conflict often reinforce one another, creating a cycle that is difficult to break without greater stability.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of conflict
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
  • Khomeini demonized the United States and Soviet Union as the Iran-Iraq holy war raged during much of his tenure.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 19 May 2026
Definition of holy war
Noun
  • In this scenario, which may already be coming to fruition, the meager hope is that the conflict transforms into simply a more limited war.
    — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 5 Apr. 2024
  • Many scholars panned the book, believing its 34-year-old author had overestimated the nation’s ability to keep limited war limited.
    — David E. Sanger, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
Definition of limited war

Browse Nearby Words

civil unions
civil war
civil wars
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Cite this Entry

“Civil war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20war. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on civil war

Nglish: Translation of civil war for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about civil war

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