often attributive
1
a(1)
: a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations
(2)
: a period of such armed conflict
(3)
b
: the art or science of warfare
c(1)
obsolete
: weapons and equipment for war
(2)
archaic
: soldiers armed and equipped for war
2
a
: a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism
b
: a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end
a class war
a war against disease
c
warred; warring
Synonyms
Examples of war in a Sentence
Noun
They fought a war over the disputed territory.
A war broke out when the colonists demanded their independence.
We need to resolve our conflicts without resorting to war.
People behave differently during a time of war.
The taking of American hostages was seen as an act of war by the United States.
the budget wars in Washington
Verb (1)
continually warring against their neighbors in an effort to expand their territory
Recent Examples on the Web
Vera Petryk, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
That marked a shift from his prior advocacy of a weaker dollar to fight trade wars and the Chinese yuan quickly slipped to a three-month trough at 7.2662 pre-dollar CNY=, while the Indian rupee INR=IN hit record lows.
—Wayne Cole, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2024
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
That violence between warring Sunni and Shia Muslim factions was halted with an uneasy truce Sunday, though reports of skirmishes continued to emerge from the country’s often-unruly, mountainous northwest.
—Mushtaq Yusufzai, NBC News, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for war 
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Noun
Believe me, that one taxi drive home under one of the biggest missile strikes during the war will remain with me as a reminder forever.
—Vera Petryk, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
That marked a shift from his prior advocacy of a weaker dollar to fight trade wars and the Chinese yuan quickly slipped to a three-month trough at 7.2662 pre-dollar CNY=, while the Indian rupee INR=IN hit record lows.
—Wayne Cole, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
But more important, the global picture that this Austrian city brings to its vast array of events demonstrates how great artists from all parts of a warring world can practice cultural diplomacy on an exalted level.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
That violence between warring Sunni and Shia Muslim factions was halted with an uneasy truce Sunday, though reports of skirmishes continued to emerge from the country’s often-unruly, mountainous northwest.
—Mushtaq Yusufzai, NBC News, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for war
Dictionary Entries Near war
Cite this Entry
“War.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/war. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
war
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a state or period of armed hostile conflict between states, nations, or groups
b
: the science of warfare
2
a
: a state of hostility, antagonism, or conflict
b
: a struggle between opposing forces or for a particular goal
a war on disease
war
2 of 2 verb
warred; warring
1
: to engage in warfare
warring nations
2
: to be in conflict
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