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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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
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Trump in the lead-up to his 2024 election win vowed to quickly end the war in Ukraine.—
Compiled byDemocrat-Gazette stafffrom wire reports,
arkansasonline.com,
4 Mar. 2025
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India Gate, New Delhi Built between 1921 and 1931, India Gate in Delhi is a war memorial designed in the European style of such commemorative landmarks.—
Shalbha Sarda,
Architectural Digest,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The mineral rights agreement is a fantastic solution to bring about an end to this conflict.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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The meeting touched on the need to strengthen Ukraine and European defense, after Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clashed at the White House on Feb. 28 over differing views on how to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.—
Amala Balakrishner,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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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
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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 17 Mar. 2025.
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