Adjectives For War

Discover the most popular adjectives for describing war, complete with example sentences to guide your usage.

Updated on March 16, 2024

Using adjectives with the noun 'war' adds layers of meaning and historical context, painting a vivid picture of the conflict described. A 'civil war' highlights intra-country conflicts, tearing communities and families apart, while a 'cold war' suggests a battle of ideologies, where direct fighting is replaced by espionage and proxy wars. The term 'nuclear war' brings forth apocalyptic images, emphasizing the existential threat of atomic weapons. Mentioning the 'Second' war indicates a sequel to a significant earlier conflict, suggesting a continuation of unresolved issues. Lastly, a 'late war' might describe a conflict nearing its end, or historically, a more recent battle. Each adjective serves to narrow down the scope, time, and nature of the conflict, enriching our understanding. Discover the full spectrum of adjectives used with 'war' that reveal even more nuances below.

civil	The civil war caused widespread destruction and loss of life.
last	The last war was a tragedy.
cold	The Cold war was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies.
nuclear
second	The second war was a bloody conflict that lasted for many years.
late	The late war devastated the country.
long	The long war had finally come to an end.
european	The European war had a devastating impact on the economy.
present	The present war has been going on for far too long.
american	The American war was a long and bloody conflict.
revolutionary	The Revolutionary war was a major turning point in American history.
holy	The holy war has been raging for centuries.
total	The enemy declared total war on our nation.
open	Open war broke out between the two rival nations.
modern	Modern warfare has evolved from traditional battles to cyber attacks and drone strikes.

french	The french war came to an end in 1815.
post
recent	The recent war left the country in ruins.
japanese	The japanese war was a brutal conflict.
turkish	The Turkish war of Independence was fought from 1919 to 1923.
pre
bloody	The bloody war had raged on for years, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair.
spanish	The Spanish war was a civil war in Spain from 1936 to 1939.
indian
third	The third war was the most devastating of all.
limited	The conflict was fought as a limited war with both sides agreeing to certain restrictions on the type of weapons and tactics used.
korean	The Korean war was a pivotal moment in the Cold War.
german	The German war machine was a formidable force during World War II
mexican	The Mexican war was a conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848.
future

global	The global war had devastating consequences for the entire world.
scale
defensive	The country's defensive war repelled the invading forces.
terrible	The terrible war ravaged the country.
naval	The naval war between the two countries was a bloody and costly affair.
trojan	The Trojan war was a legendary conflict fought between the Greeks and the city of Troy.
crimean	The Crimean war took place between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom, and Sardinia.
just	The concept of a just war is controversial.
aggressive
successful	The successful war ended with a treaty that favored the victors.
imperialist	The effects of the imperialist war were devastating.
protracted	The protracted war had devastating consequences for the civilian population.
peloponnesian	The Peloponnesian war was a war fought between the Peloponnesian League and the Delian League from 431 to 404 BC.
conventional	The conventional war had been raging for months, with no end in sight.
prussian	The Prussian war began in 1864 and ended in 1871.

year	The year war was fought over resources.
undeclared	The undeclared war between the two neighboring countries had been brewing for years.
preventive	The president authorized a preventive war against the neighboring country to prevent them from developing nuclear weapons.
russian	The Russian war has caused widespread devastation.
disastrous	The disastrous war left the country in ruins.
bitter	The bitter war left a deep scar on the nation's psyche.
punic	The Second Punic war was one of the most famous conflicts in Roman history.
dutch	The Dutch war was a naval conflict fought between England and the Dutch Republic from 1652 to 1654.
offensive	The offensive war caused widespread devastation.
impending	It's a good idea to avoid discussion of the impending war
atomic	The atomic war ravaged the world, leaving behind only a barren wasteland.
israeli	The Israeli war was a tragedy.
called	The battle between the two factions called war
persian	The Persian war was a series of conflicts between the Achaemenid Empire and the Greek city-states.
man	The man warred with all his might.

cruel	The cruel war left behind a trail of devastation and countless broken lives.
perpetual	The constant state of perpetual war had taken a toll on the nation's resources.
afghan	Since joining the Afghan war in 2001, the U.S. has spent trillions of dollars.
unjust	The unjust war has caused widespread suffering and destruction.
prolonged	The prolonged war had taken its toll on the country's infrastructure.
algerian	The Algerian war was a prolonged and bloody conflict between France and Algeria from 1954 to 1962.
anti

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