warpath
Americannoun
idioms
noun
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the route taken by North American Indians on a warlike expedition
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preparing to engage in battle
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informal in a state of anger
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Sensitive Note
See powwow.
Other Word 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
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Indian No More
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The School Story
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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.
Nicola Baird, the founder of We Won't Be Scammed, is on the warpath.
From BBC • May 3, 2026
It is different from a general mobilization, which involves drafting from the general population, refocusing the entire economy and essentially setting the whole country on a warpath, hitting a pause on normalcy.
From Washington Post • Sep. 21, 2022
Since returning from health and safety protocols, a fully rested Jackson has been on the warpath, reeling in sack after sack.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2021
Aside from countering China, it also marks the latest development on Bezos’ warpath to counter competition from Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
From The Verge • Jun. 9, 2021
Why did his mother have to go on the warpath just when everything was so great in his life?
From "Wringer" by Jerry Spinelli
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.
