holy war
holy war — noun
1. a war between groups who follow different religions, fought because each side be
a war between groups who follow different religions, fought because each side believes its religion is the only true one and wants to protect it or make others follow it
Hao, a historian, argues the Crusades were not simply a holy war but had economic motives too.
collocation: fight a holy war / wage a holy war
Local leaders feared the temple dispute would turn into a holy war between the two communities.
collocation: turn into a holy war
The prime minister condemned any attempt to describe the border conflict as a holy war.
Dewi watched her village burn as the attackers shouted that theirs was a holy war.
Soldiers on both sides believed they were fighting a holy war for their faith.
- religious war
more neutral and descriptive than 'holy war', which often carries a stronger emotional charge
- crusade
historically refers to the medieval Christian holy wars; used loosely today for any determined campaign
用法筆記
Often used historically to describe conflicts such as the Crusades; applying the term to modern conflicts can be controversial because it may imply religious justification for violence.
常見錯誤
holy war — idiom
1. a violent campaign carried out by religious extremists who believe that their ac
a violent campaign carried out by religious extremists who believe that their actions serve a sacred or divinely ordained purpose
The community leader warned that calling the attack a holy war only helped the extremists.
collocation: call something a holy war
Maja's documentary follows three families whose children were recruited for a holy war through online videos.
pattern: be recruited for a holy war
Ife's younger brother was recruited by armed men who told him they were waging a holy war.
The government passed new laws to stop the spread of holy war propaganda on social media.
- jihad
Arabic term that in its original sense means spiritual struggle, but in modern media is often equated with 'holy war' — a connection many Muslims reject
- religious extremism
focuses on the ideology rather than the armed conflict itself
用法筆記
Carries a strongly negative connotation, implying that the violence is unjustified and driven by extremist ideology rather than genuine religious faith. The term is almost always used critically by outsiders, not as a self-description.