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 Such limitations affect untold individuals and families as well as the overall development of a country mired in decades of civil war and foreign occupation. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2026 The Syrian civil war, which started in 2011, killed hundreds of thousands of people, displaced millions more and has ravaged the country’s economy. — Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026 Season 2 of the crime drama sees the North London crime family the Harrigans threatened by a civil war. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 The Houthi attacks could reignite Yemen's civil war following a 2022 truce, and open a new front in the Middle East war. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 12 Aug. 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
  • Russian drones have repeatedly breached Romanian airspace throughout the war.
    — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Yields have risen in recent months over growing concerns about inflation stemming from the monthslong war in Iran and ballooning government debt, among other factors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 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
  • Born in 1946, in a country recovering from a civil war and a world war, Rodríguez entered a life marked by poverty in the southern Spanish village of Añora.
    — Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • But for the most part, today’s athletes weren’t shaped by the Great Depression and a world war.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of world war
Noun
  • Meanwhile, outside the five districts that Democrats hope to switch, there are safely Democratic districts where progressive candidates are jousting with mainstream rivals, a subset of the national party’s ideological conflict.
    — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Add to this the conflict in the Middle East driving up gas prices, and the macroeconomic backdrop to back-to-school shopping is hardly optimal.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • Even a local Catholic priest launched a holy war against the school over its new athletic facility.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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

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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 26 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on civil war

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about civil war

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