War — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adverb or adjective /ˈwȯr/ (noun) /ˈwär/ (adverb or adjective)

Meaning & Definition of War

War (noun)

  1. a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations
  2. a period of such armed conflict
  3. state of war

War (verb)

  1. to be in active or vigorous conflict
  2. to engage in warfare
  3. worst, overcome

War (adverb or adjective)

  1. worse

War (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups

    "the war was the result of ethnic tensions that had been building in the region for decades"

    similar: conflagration, conflict, hostilities, hot war
    related: civil war, cold war, holy war, limited war, police action, world war, action, battle, engagement, skirmish, combat, fighting, warfare
    opposite: peace
    near: demilitarization, demobilization, disarmament, pacification, ceasefire, truce, calm, peacefulness, tranquility

  2. a lack of agreement or harmony

    "the siblings always seemed to be at war with one another"

    similar: conflict, disaccord, discord, discordance, discordancy, disharmony, dissension, dissent, dissidence, dissonance, disunion, disunity, division, friction, infighting, inharmony, schism, strife, variance, warfare
    related: clash, collision, competition, contention, altercation, argument, bicker, brawl, debate, disagreement, dispute, divide, fissure, falling-out, fight, hassle, jar, miff, mix-up, quarrel, row, run-in, scrap, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle, incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, inconsistence, inconsistency, inconsonance, inharmoniousness, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, cold war, enmity, hostility, ill will, rancor
    opposite: accord, agreement, concord, concordance, harmony, peace
    near: concurrence, cooperation

  3. an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another

    "only the latest round in the never-ending class war"

    similar: ball game, battle, combat, competition, conflict, confrontation, contention, contest, dogfight, duel, face-off, grapple, match, rivalry, strife, struggle, sweepstakes, tug-of-war, warfare
    related: horse race, nail-biter, showdown, clash, collision, discord, friction, argument, controversy, debate, disagreement, disputation, dispute, dissension, quarrel, row, wrangle
    near: concord, harmony, peace

War (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in fight, battle

    similar: battle, contend, fight, oppose, resist, withstand, conserve, preserve, save, avert, prevent, buffer, palisade, picket, wall, bulwark, cover, defend, fence, fend, forfend, guard, keep, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward
    opposite: assail, assault, attack, bombard, storm, beset, besiege, overrun, capitulate, cave, submit, yield

Related Entry: War (against) (verb)

War (against) is a different word from War. The synonyms below are for war (against), not for war.

  1. to oppose (someone) in physical conflict

    "continually warring against their neighbors in an effort to expand their territory"

    similar: battle, clash (with), combat, fight, scrimmage (with), skirmish (with)
    related: duel, joust, bang, bash, bat, batter, beat, belt, bludgeon, bop, buffet, clobber, hammer, hit, knock, paste, pound, punch, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, box, spar, brawl, grapple, scuffle, tussle, wrestle, bump, collide
    near: give up, submit, surrender

Related Entry: War hawk (noun)

War hawk is a different word from War. The synonyms below are for war hawk, not for war.

  1. one who urges or attempts to cause a war

    "war hawks in the cabinet who urged the President to respond to the threat with armed force"

    similar: hawk, jingo, jingoist, militarist, warmonger
    related: agitator, firebrand, fomenter, instigator, rabble-rouser, belligerent, combatant, militant, chauvinist
    opposite: dove, pacifist, peacenik
    near: peacemaker, peacekeeper

Related Entry: War paint (noun)

War paint is a different word from War. The synonyms below are for war paint, not for war.

  1. preparations intended to beautify the face

    "when I was young, I loved to watch Mom put on her war paint before a fancy evening out"

    similar: cosmetics, makeup, maquillage, paint
    related: greasepaint, camo, camouflage, cold cream, cream, eye shadow, kohl, lipstick, lotion, mascara, oil, powder, rouge, vanishing cream

Related Entry: War (with) (verb)

War (with) is a different word from War. The synonyms below are for war (with), not for war.

  1. as in fight, battle

    similar: battle, clash (with), combat, fight, assail, assault, attack, beset, charge, rush, storm, strike, encroach, harass, infringe, trespass, conquer, crush, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subdue, subject, subjugate, vanquish, beleaguer, besiege, blockade, invest, despoil, loot, maraud, pillage, plunder, ransack, ravage, sack, strip, garrison, occupy, foray (into), invade, overrun, raid
    opposite: defend, guard, protect, safeguard, shield, ward, defy, oppose, repel, resist, withstand, capitulate (to), cede (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)

Related Entry: War cries (noun)

War cries is a different word from War. The synonyms below are for war cries, not for war.

  1. as in battle cries

    similar: battle cries, maxims, mottoes, catchwords, clichés, expressions, idioms, banners, catchphrases, cries, shibboleths, slogans, taglines, watchwords

Related Entry: War cry (noun)

War cry is a different word from War. The synonyms below are for war cry, not for war.

  1. as in battle cry

    similar: battle cry, maxim, motto, catchword, cliché, expression, idiom, banner, catchphrase, cry, shibboleth, slogan, tagline, watchword

Related Entry: War hawks (noun)

War hawks is a different word from War. The synonyms below are for war hawks, not for war.

  1. one who urges or attempts to cause a war

    "war hawks in the cabinet who urged the President to respond to the threat with armed force"

    similar: hawks, jingoes, jingoists, militarists, warmongers
    related: agitators, firebrands, fomenters, instigators, rabble-rousers, belligerents, combatants, militants, chauvinists
    opposite: doves, pacifists, peaceniks
    near: peacemakers, peacekeepers

Related Entry: War paints (noun)

War paints is a different word from War. The synonyms below are for war paints, not for war.

  1. preparations intended to beautify the face

    "when I was young, I loved to watch Mom put on her war paint before a fancy evening out"

    similar: cosmetics, makeups, maquillages, paints
    related: greasepaints, camos, camouflages, cold creams, creams, eye shadows, kohls, lipsticks, lotions, mascaras, oils, powders, rouges, vanishing creams

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for War

The most common words with a similar meaning to War:

conflagration, conflict, hostilities, hot war, disaccord, discord, discordance, discordancy, disharmony, dissension, dissent, dissidence, dissonance, disunion, disunity, division, friction, infighting, inharmony, schism, strife, variance, warfare, ball game, battle, combat, competition, confrontation, contention, contest, dogfight, duel, face-off, grapple, match, rivalry, struggle, sweepstakes, tug-of-war, contend

Antonyms & Opposite Words for War

Words with the opposite meaning of War:

peace, accord, agreement, concord, concordance, harmony, assail, assault, attack, bombard, storm, beset, besiege, overrun, capitulate, cave, submit, yield

Related Words for War

civil war, cold war, holy war, limited war, police action, world war, action, engagement, skirmish, fighting, clash, collision, altercation, argument, bicker, brawl, debate, disagreement, dispute, divide, fissure, falling-out, hassle, jar, miff, mix-up, quarrel, row, run-in, scrap

Near Antonyms of War

demilitarization, demobilization, disarmament, pacification, ceasefire, truce, calm, peacefulness, tranquility, concurrence, cooperation

Word Forms of War

Inflections: warred, warring

Derived words: warless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of War

Middle English werre, from Anglo-French werre, guerre, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werra strife; akin to Old High German werran to confuse

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for War

  • Topics: Law, Politics & Society, History & Mythology

Words & Phrases Containing War

war baby, war bride, war chest, war club, war crime, war cry

Frequently Asked Questions about War

What does "War" mean?

"War" means a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations. As an a noun, a verb and an adverb or adjective, it is defined as: a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "War"?

Other words for "War" include conflagration, conflict, hostilities, hot war, disaccord, discord, discordance and discordancy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "War" you intend.

What are different ways to say "War"?

There are 121 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "War". Common alternatives include conflagration, conflict, hostilities, hot war, disaccord, discord, discordance, discordancy, disharmony and dissension.

What is the opposite of "War"?

Antonyms of "War" include peace, accord, agreement, concord, concordance, harmony, assail and assault. Near antonyms include demilitarization, demobilization, disarmament and pacification.

How do you use "War" in a sentence?

Examples of "War" in a sentence: "the war was the result of ethnic tensions that had been building in the region for decades"; "the siblings always seemed to be at war with one another"; "only the latest round in the never-ending class war".

Is "War" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"War" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adverb or adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "War"?

"War" is pronounced /ˈwȯr/ as a noun and /ˈwär/ as an adverb or adjective.

What is the origin of the word "War"?

"War" comes from Middle English werre, from Anglo-French werre, guerre, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werra strife; akin to Old High German werran to confuse. First known use: before 12th century.