war of aggression
Unjustified military attack
A war of aggression is an armed conflict initiated by one nation against another without legitimate justification such as self-defense or international mandate.
The term carries strong legal and moral weight—the Nuremberg trials established waging aggressive war as a crime against peace.
The invasion was condemned as a war of aggression.
The phrase often appears in international law and antiwar rhetoric.
Policy of territorial growth
- colonialismDomination through foreign settlement
- empireDomain under unified control
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- annexationAbsorbing territory into jurisdiction
colonization · territorial expansion · superpower · exploitation · geopolitics · interventionism · sphere of influence · vassal state
Defeating and seizing control
- subjugationForcing into submission
- occupationOne's regular paid work
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
puppet government · regime change · capitulation · military rule · martial law · suppression · coercion · intimidation
Fast, overwhelming military campaign
- incursionHostile territorial penetration
- occupationOne's regular paid work
- assaultViolent offensive act
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
offensive · campaign · onslaught · advance · raid · overrun · takeover · military operation
Attack to forestall aggression
- unjustifiedLacking adequate reason
- belligerenceWarlike aggression
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- first strikeInitiating combat unprovoked
without cause · escalation · provocation · casus belli · warmongering · bellicosity · saber-rattling · military buildup
Illegal act in combat
- NurembergGerman trial city
- Geneva ConventionWartime humanitarian law treaties
- UN CharterFoundational international organization treaty
- tribunalJudicial decision-making body
prosecution · indictment · condemnation · sanctions · accountability · reparations · crimes against humanity · atrocity
expansionism
Policy of territorial growth
- colonialismDomination through foreign settlement
- empireDomain under unified control
- hegemonyDominant group's control
annexation · colonization · territorial expansion · superpower · exploitation · geopolitics · interventionism · sphere of influence · vassal state · puppet regime
conquest
Defeating and seizing control
- subjugationForcing into submission
- occupationOne's regular paid work
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
tyranny · puppet government · regime change · capitulation · military rule · martial law · suppression · coercion · intimidation · collaborator
blitzkrieg
Fast, overwhelming military campaign
- incursionHostile territorial penetration
- occupationOne's regular paid work
- assaultViolent offensive act
siege · offensive · campaign · onslaught · advance · raid · overrun · takeover · military operation · ground forces
preemptive strike
Attack to forestall aggression
- unjustifiedLacking adequate reason
- belligerenceWarlike aggression
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
without cause · first strike · escalation · provocation · casus belli · warmongering · bellicosity · saber-rattling · military buildup · declaration of war
war crime
Illegal act in combat
- NurembergGerman trial city
- Geneva ConventionWartime humanitarian law treaties
- UN CharterFoundational international organization treaty
tribunal · prosecution · indictment · condemnation · sanctions · accountability · reparations · crimes against humanity · atrocity · genocide
- WarsWorld War I, WWI, civil war, cold war, Korean War
- WWII EuropeNormandy, Operation Overlord, Battle of Britain, D-Day, Utah Beach
- invasionincursion, invasion force, invasion fleet, invasion route, ground invasion
war of aggressiondefensive war
Armed resistance to aggression
defensive action · just war · retaliatory strike · resistance · counteroffensive
war of aggressionpeace
Freedom from disturbance
armistice · ceasefire · peaceful coexistence · détente · diplomatic resolution
war of aggressionalliance
Formal union of parties
non-aggression pact · international cooperation · diplomatic engagement · foreign aid
wars, warred, warring, warlike, warrior, warriors, warfare, wartime, aggression