warpath
Americannoun
-
warpaths
plural
idioms
noun
-
the route taken by North American Indians on a warlike expedition
-
-
preparing to engage in battle
-
informal in a state of anger
-
Sensitive Note
See powwow.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of warpath
Explanation
A warpath is either the road to a battle or a hostile, aggressive mood. Note: there's probably going to be trouble when someone is on either warpath. This was originally a Native American term for a real path: a warpath was the route taken on the way to a known or planned conflict. The warpath was the way to war. From there, this became a general term for being angry or combative — usually preceded by the words on the. A volatile, swearing boss is on the warpath. An angry driver swearing at other drivers is on the warpath. It's best to avoid people when they're on the warpath.
Vocabulary lists containing warpath
Dead End in Norvelt
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Indian No More
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The School Story
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
First used by Ottoman military "mehter" bands to frighten and demoralise the enemy, cymbals were a useful tool for an empire on the warpath.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
Matt Duss, executive vice president at the Center for International Policy, a progressive think tank, said President Trump appears to be on a warpath.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026
"He'd go out of the house and be able to start a row over some perceived lack of service - he'd go on the warpath," Ms Doyle said.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2022
Fox News and The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page went on the warpath.
From New York Times ● Aug. 30, 2020
“Mom’s gonna be on the warpath at any moment.”
From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos
We have been riding with fierce warriors and proud kings and fiery prophets of Israel, passing the sites of royal splendour and fields of ancient havoc, retracing the warpaths of the Twelve Tribes.
From Out-of-Doors in the Holy Land Impressions of Travel in Body and Spirit by Henry Van Dyke
All these familiar warpaths to every Waubanakee warrior, with every stream and landmark bearing names his fathers had given them, led through Vermont, then only known to English-speaking men as "The Wilderness."
From Vermont A Study of Independence by Rowland E. (Evans) Robinson
You and I have been on a good many warpaths together.
From The Frontiersmen by Gustave Aimard
You are brave men: had you no enemies there, and no warpaths?
From To Have and to Hold by Mary Johnston
Perhaps, for he had ridden on a great many warpaths with the fierce and merciless Lipans.
From The Talking Leaves An Indian Story by William Osborn Stoddard
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
