1
: military operations between enemies : hostilities, war
also
: an activity undertaken by a political unit (such as a nation) to weaken or destroy another
economic warfare
2
: struggle between competing entities : conflict
see also biological warfare, chemical warfare, cyber warfare, germ warfare, trench warfare
Examples of warfare in a Sentence
that troubled household seems to be almost constantly in a state of warfare
companies engaged in constant warfare for dominance in the market for smart phones and tablets
Recent Examples on the Web
The defeat of the Islamic State in Kobani—with significant American air support—energized the PKK, which started a campaign of urban warfare and tried to take over cities in southeastern Turkey.
—
Ragip Soylu, Time, 18 July 2025
Military officials have suggested that the bot operation may be part of a wider effort involving Russia, a longtime practitioner of digital influence warfare.
—Deborah Danan, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2025
Prod: María Isabel Páramo, Iván García) One of the biggest swings among BAM projects, set in 1996 Colombia, as the country succumbs to bloody insurgent warfare.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 15 July 2025
While the future of warfare is being invented in places like Ukraine, U.S. officials are looking on with a growing sense of urgency.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for warfare
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Ragip Soylu, Time, 18 July 2025
Military officials have suggested that the bot operation may be part of a wider effort involving Russia, a longtime practitioner of digital influence warfare.
—Deborah Danan, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2025
Prod: María Isabel Páramo, Iván García) One of the biggest swings among BAM projects, set in 1996 Colombia, as the country succumbs to bloody insurgent warfare.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 15 July 2025
While the future of warfare is being invented in places like Ukraine, U.S. officials are looking on with a growing sense of urgency.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for warfare
Cite this Entry
“Warfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warfare. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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warfare
noun
war·fare
ˈwȯr-ˌfa(ə)r 
-ˌfe(ə)r
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