World War III
noun
1
: a hypothetical future world war
Among the citizens of these two countries, the suspicion exists that in the event of World War III their lands will pass unnoticed and unscathed …—
Gordon Ackerman
Gordon AckermanFor years legislators have gone through the motions, knowing that nothing would change. This year they can't be so sure. "Until we have a vote, I'm not moving off this for the budget or World War III," John McCain told me.—Jonathan Alter
Jonathan Alter2
: a major fight or disagreement : a situation in which people are very angry with one another
You instigate World War III when he tells you he wants to go to Hooters with his old frat buddies.—Julie Taylor
Julie TaylorExamples of World War III in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump, who asserts the U.S. is on the brink of World War III, has pulled the GOP in a more isolationist direction in recent years and has been skeptical of additional U.S. aid to Ukraine.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 13 Oct. 2024
Yeah, another cult classic and tongue-in-cheek to boot, but its setting is — gulp! — 2024 following World War III.
—Worth Sparkman, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024
In addition, a Russian victory would make World War III more, not less, likely.
—David French, The Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that attacks within Russia would amount to an escalation, and Biden is rightly keen to avoid World War III.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 12 Sep. 2024
Speaking behind a plexiglass barrier, Trump made a litany of promises — including ending the Russia-Ukraine war before being sworn in to office, abolishing the federal Department of Education and fending off World War III.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2024
The campaign for the presidency overflowed for months with dark ruminations about the furies to be unleashed should the other side win: World War III, another Great Depression and even the possible ascent of a dictator.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2024
As the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to feed fears of a wider global conflict, the movie is worth revisiting for its depiction of the outbreak of World War III.
—TIME, 9 Aug. 2024
Is propping up this sterling exemplar of freedom really worth billions of dollars, untold thousands of Ukrainian lives and the attendant risk of World War III?
The actual reason for this proxy war (and others) is much simpler.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2024
Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 13 Oct. 2024
Yeah, another cult classic and tongue-in-cheek to boot, but its setting is — gulp! — 2024 following World War III.
—Worth Sparkman, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024
In addition, a Russian victory would make World War III more, not less, likely.
—David French, The Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that attacks within Russia would amount to an escalation, and Biden is rightly keen to avoid World War III.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 12 Sep. 2024
Speaking behind a plexiglass barrier, Trump made a litany of promises — including ending the Russia-Ukraine war before being sworn in to office, abolishing the federal Department of Education and fending off World War III.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2024
The campaign for the presidency overflowed for months with dark ruminations about the furies to be unleashed should the other side win: World War III, another Great Depression and even the possible ascent of a dictator.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2024
As the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to feed fears of a wider global conflict, the movie is worth revisiting for its depiction of the outbreak of World War III.
—TIME, 9 Aug. 2024
Is propping up this sterling exemplar of freedom really worth billions of dollars, untold thousands of Ukrainian lives and the attendant risk of World War III?
The actual reason for this proxy war (and others) is much simpler.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'World War III.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near World War III
Cite this Entry
“World War III.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/World%20War%20III. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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