holy war
Americannoun
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a war waged for what is supposed or proclaimed to be a holy purpose, as the defense of faith.
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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.
noun
Etymology
Origin of holy war
First recorded in 1685–95
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.
"There is no 'holy war', at least from our side," he insisted, adding "there's not a shadow of a doubt in my mind" that Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith were fully committed.
From BBC
Instead of worldwide holy war, they want to focus on national affairs, building friendly relations with all countries, including non-Muslim powers like the U.S.,
The story moves forward in time, with Paul Atreides now emperor, trapped in a position of power he never wanted and presiding over a holy war carried out in his name.
From Los Angeles Times
“If God ever calls me to a holy war,” he said, “I want Joe Frazier fighting beside me.”
From Los Angeles Times
Yardena Schwartz is a journalist and the author of “Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine that Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict.”
From Los Angeles Times
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.
