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.

Origin of holy war

First recorded in 1685–95

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for holy war

crusade, jihad

Examples from the Web for holy war

Historical Examples of 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
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
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

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