state of war
Nations in combat
A state of war is the formal legal condition existing between nations engaged in armed conflict, whether or not fighting is actively occurring.
A declaration of war establishes this status, which triggers special legal powers and obligations: The country has been in a state of war since the invasion.
The phrase also describes any situation of active hostility or serious conflict: The two departments exist in a permanent state of war.
Combat engagement area
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- firefightExchange of gunfire
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
assault · siege · ambush · raid · sortie · offensive · bombardment · shelling
Opposition between parties
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- bloodshedKilling and wounding
- violenceHarmful physical force
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
turmoil · insurgency · rebellion · sectarian violence · ethnic conflict · genocide · atrocities · displacement
Organized land-based military
- navyMaritime military force
- air forceMilitary aviation branch
- marinesNaval infantry soldiers
- infantryGround combat troops
artillery · troops · battalion · brigade · division · platoon · squadron · general
Formal public announcement
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- ceasefireAgreed halt to fighting
- armisticeAgreement to cease hostilities
- treatyBinding pact between nations
surrender · negotiation · sanctions · embargo · blockade · neutrality · alliance · coalition
Progressive increase in intensity
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- provocationAct that triggers response
- saber-rattlingThreatening show of military might
arms race · deterrence · flashpoint · crisis · alert · preparedness · intelligence · surveillance
battlefield
Combat engagement area
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- firefightExchange of gunfire
skirmish · assault · siege · ambush · raid · sortie · offensive · bombardment · shelling · airstrike
conflict
Opposition between parties
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- bloodshedKilling and wounding
- violenceHarmful physical force
upheaval · turmoil · insurgency · rebellion · sectarian violence · ethnic conflict · genocide · atrocities · displacement · refugees
army
Organized land-based military
infantry · artillery · troops · battalion · brigade · division · platoon · squadron · general · admiral
declaration
Formal public announcement
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- ceasefireAgreed halt to fighting
- armisticeAgreement to cease hostilities
treaty · surrender · negotiation · sanctions · embargo · blockade · neutrality · alliance · coalition · axis
escalation
Progressive increase in intensity
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- provocationAct that triggers response
saber-rattling · arms race · deterrence · flashpoint · crisis · alert · preparedness · intelligence · surveillance · propaganda
- warfarebattle, combat, attack, armed conflict, military strategy
- hostilityanimosity, hostility, antagonism, belligerence, malice
state of warpeace
Freedom from disturbance
peacetime · ceasefire · armistice · truce · demilitarization
state of wartranquility
Undisturbed peacefulness
normalcy · stability · civil order · security · calm
state of warpeace treaty
Formal end to hostilities
alliance · friendship · entente · diplomatic relations · non-aggression
war, state, stated, states, stating, statesman, statecraft, statewide, statehood