holy war

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR holy war ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a war waged for what is supposed or proclaimed to be a holy purpose, as the defense of faith.

any disagreement or argument between fanatical proponents of radically differing beliefs, opinions, etc.: a holy war on the merits of rival computer operating systems; a holy war about welfare reform.

Nearby words

holy synod, holy terror, holy thistle, holy thursday, holy trinity, holy war, holy water, holy water sprinkler, holy week, holy willie, holy writ

Origin of holy war

First recorded in 1685–95

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for holy war

After this success Ghz (Victor in a Holy-war) was written amongst the royal titles.
The Bbur-nma in English|Babur, Emperor of Hindustan
In 1106 gathered another council at Poitiers, a holy-war rally, but the war was to be waged on Christian Constantinople.
How France Built Her Cathedrals|Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly
The favourite system of this King was the Holy-War, and his intemperate zeal led to the point before us.
Curialia Miscellanea, or Anecdotes of Old Times; Regal, Noble, Gentilitial, and Miscellaneous|Samuel Pegge

British Dictionary definitions for holy war

holy war

noun

a war waged in the cause of a religion

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012