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Synonyms

war cry

American  

noun

  1. a cry, word, phrase, etc., shouted in charging or in rallying to attack; battle cry.

  2. a slogan, phrase, or motto used to unite a political party, rally support for a cause, etc.


war cry British  

noun

  1. a rallying cry used by combatants in battle

  2. a cry, slogan, etc, used to rally support for a cause

"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

Etymology

Origin of war cry

First recorded in 1740–50

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.

See Examples For:

"Their war cry is 'let's live life, let's live it healthily, let's live well,' and obviously this fascinates me."

From Barron's May 5, 2026

“Then there’s a particular part of the end. Yes, the war cry is delightful to sing,” she says, referring to the heroic vocal lick that brings down the curtain on Part 1 of the movie.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 4, 2025

Few singing careers have been so established by the very first word they ever recorded, but that war cry of "Weh-yeh-yeh-ell-ay-oh-ah-ellll" is still Lulu's defining moment.

From BBC Apr. 1, 2024

His war cry of “Let’s go!” in Spanish draws motivation for Alcaraz when he faces difficulty, and revs up his fans.

From Washington Times Apr. 28, 2023

His eyes were closed, but he scowled so deeply he appeared to be on the verge of a bloodcurdling war cry.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

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