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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
But the violent street gang originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s, in communities made up largely of refugees from El Salvador’s civil war and other immigrants, and grew to include many U.S. citizens.
—
Ellen Knickmeyer and Maria Verza, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Netanyahu's comments at a military graduation led to new concerns over the Israeli presence, and sway, in a swath of southern Syria as Damascus' new leaders attempt to consolidate control after years of civil war.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 24 Feb. 2025
In the following years, MS-13 began to grow and evolve as more Salvadorans arrived in the US, fleeing the civil war back home.
—Max Saltman, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
The Republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists, who set up the People's Republic of China.
—Joe Cash and Ben Blanchard, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil war
Ellen Knickmeyer and Maria Verza, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Netanyahu's comments at a military graduation led to new concerns over the Israeli presence, and sway, in a swath of southern Syria as Damascus' new leaders attempt to consolidate control after years of civil war.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 24 Feb. 2025
In the following years, MS-13 began to grow and evolve as more Salvadorans arrived in the US, fleeing the civil war back home.
—Max Saltman, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
The Republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists, who set up the People's Republic of China.
—Joe Cash and Ben Blanchard, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil war
Noun
-
It was upended by protesters over the Israel-Hamas war, and Fulcher canceled another public event scheduled for the next day in Nampa.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Snow White, directed by Marc Webb (2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man), has had a long and rocky road to the big screen, having grown into such a culture war target that the studio has made some unusual moves in recent weeks.—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
For more than a decade, the West has faced off against the East again in what was widely called a new cold war.—
Peter Baker,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2025
-
His efforts at alliance building reflected not the beginning of a multipolar era but an ideological contest between democracy and autocracy in a new cold war with China.—
Michael Brenes,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance accused Zelenskyy of playing with millions of lives and gambling with the possibility of world war.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
-
The timing of the celebration—just as world war erupted in Europe—did not escape many Americans.—
Julie Greene / Made by History,
TIME,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Their conflict reached its end at AEW's Revolution event in March 2025, where Strickland ultimately defeated Ricochet.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
-
These trade conflicts have triggered worries about stagflation, a combination of stagnant growth and elevated inflation.—
Axios,
Axios,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
While Tedesco calls for a holy war in response to the attack, Benitez takes a different approach, declaring that violence should not be met with more violence.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
-
But as Paul starts to meet the prophetic expectations of his most fervent followers, there are signs of a holy war that could have terrible consequences.—
Scott Tobias,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in a limited war since last October, but Israeli forces have significantly escalated the scope of their attacks since the beginning of September in an attempt to force Hezbollah to stop its attacks on northern Israel.—
Mike Brest,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
30 Sep. 2024
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Civil war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20war. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share