armed conflicts
Battles between nations
Armed conflicts are wars or other sustained hostilities between military forces, nations, or organized groups.
The term appears frequently in international law, humanitarian contexts, and news coverage, where it serves as a neutral alternative to war: The region has experienced decades of armed conflict.
Conflicts may be international or internal, as with civil wars and insurgencies.
Defiance of established power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- mutinyRevolt against authority
insurrection · revolt · overthrow · factional · sectarian · ethnic · tribal · warlords
Armed hostile engagement
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- firefightExchange of gunfire
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
assault · offensive · ambush · raid · siege · frontline · trenches · artillery
People seeking safety elsewhere
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- civiliansNon-military population
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- atrocitiesExtremely cruel acts
genocide · ethnic cleansing · war crimes · famine · siege · blockade · aid · relief
Armed forces collectively
- strategyPlanned approach to goals
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
- weaponsTools for fighting
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
missiles · tanks · drones · airstrikes · naval · ground forces · logistics · intelligence
Irregular armed fighter
- rebelsArmed opposition fighters
- militantsAggressive advocates for causes
- partisansStaunch factional supporters
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
insurgents · paramilitary · separatists · cells · clandestine · sabotage · ambush · IED
Progressive increase in intensity
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- provocationAct that triggers response
- buildupGradual accumulation over time
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
saber-rattling · brinkmanship · deterrence · flashpoint · hotspot · disputed · border · territorial
rebellion
Defiance of established power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
mutiny · insurrection · revolt · overthrow · factional · sectarian · ethnic · tribal · warlords · militias
combat
Armed hostile engagement
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- firefightExchange of gunfire
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
clash · assault · offensive · ambush · raid · siege · frontline · trenches · artillery · barrage
refugees
People seeking safety elsewhere
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- civiliansNon-military population
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
atrocities · genocide · ethnic cleansing · war crimes · famine · siege · blockade · aid · relief · intervention
military
Armed forces collectively
artillery · missiles · tanks · drones · airstrikes · naval · ground forces · logistics · intelligence · munitions
guerrilla
Irregular armed fighter
- rebelsArmed opposition fighters
- militantsAggressive advocates for causes
- partisansStaunch factional supporters
resistance · insurgents · paramilitary · separatists · cells · clandestine · sabotage · ambush · IED · counterinsurgency
escalation
Progressive increase in intensity
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- provocationAct that triggers response
- buildupGradual accumulation over time
mobilization · saber-rattling · brinkmanship · deterrence · flashpoint · hotspot · disputed · border · territorial · proxy
armed conflictsdiplomacy
Negotiation between nations
negotiation · peace talks · peace · mediation · arbitration
armed conflictspeace
Freedom from disturbance
peacetime · harmony · amity · peaceful coexistence · concord
armed conflictspeace
Freedom from disturbance
stability · peacetime · security · tranquility · civil order
arms, conflict, armor, armed, disarm, armored, unarmed, confrontation, armory