holy war

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.

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.,

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

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 • Jan. 1, 2026

The word ordinarily means an inner struggle for justice, under traditional Islamic theology, but is also regularly used as a call for holy war by terrorist groups.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2024

The Muslims of Ternate began a holy war against the Portuguese and drew closer to the Muslim world.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

In the 11th and 12th centuries the chivalry of Spain and southern France took up the struggle with the Moors as a holy war.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 3 "Chitral" to "Cincinnati" by Various