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shooting war

American  

noun

  1. open conflict between hostile nations involving direct military engagements.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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In the deeply coded discourse of superpower relations, I think that translates into vigorous competition and disagreement, but without an actual shooting war.

From Salon May 17, 2026

"That we find ourselves in the position where we got hit in a known shooting war inside a missile threat is pretty incredible."

From BBC Mar. 4, 2026

Meanwhile, Taiwan and the U.S. will also have to prepare for a challenge short of a shooting war.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 20, 2025

Tehran promises major retaliation, but neither Israel nor Iran wants a major shooting war, given the stakes for both countries.

From New York Times Apr. 2, 2024

We have sought no shooting war with Hitler.

From The Fireside Chats of Franklin Delano Roosevelt by Roosevelt, Franklin Delano

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