war-cry

A soldier shouts a war-cry as he charges forward.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A shout used by soldiers in battle: "war-cry" refers to a loud, distinctive shout or yell used by warriors or soldiers to rally themselves and intimidate their enemies during combat.
   • A slogan or rallying call: In a broader sense, "war-cry" can mean any phrase or expression used to unite people or inspire action, especially in a competitive or confrontational context.

Usage Examples

• Noun (battle shout):

  • The ancient warriors raised their swords and let out a fierce war-cry before charging. (A loud, motivating shout used in battle.)
  • The Viking war-cry echoed across the fjord, striking fear into their opponents. (A distinctive battle yell specific to a group.)

• Noun (slogan):

  • The political party adopted "Justice for All" as their war-cry during the election campaign. (A rallying slogan to unite supporters.)
  • In the final minutes of the game, the crowd’s war-cry spurred the team to victory. (A motivating chant used by fans.)

Advanced Usage

• "To raise a war-cry": to initiate a rallying call or to begin a campaign with a strong slogan.

  • The activists raised a war-cry against deforestation, mobilizing thousands to protest. (They started a vocal, unifying campaign.)

• "A personal war-cry": an individual’s mantra or phrase that drives their personal efforts.

  • Her personal war-cry was "Never give up," which she repeated during tough times. (A self-motivating phrase.)

Variants and Related Words

• War cry (n): an alternative spelling without a hyphen, meaning the same thing.

  • The soldiers’ war cry was heard miles away. (Same meaning as war-cry.)

• Cry (n/v): a loud shout or call; to shout loudly.

  • He let out a cry of surprise. (A loud vocal expression.)

Synonyms

• Battle cry: a shout used to encourage soldiers in battle.

  • The general’s battle cry rallied the troops. (A synonym for war-cry in a military context.)

• Slogan: a short, memorable phrase used in advertising or politics.

  • The company’s slogan is "Think Different." (A rallying phrase, but less aggressive than war-cry.)

• Chant: a repeated rhythmic phrase, often used by crowds.

  • The fans’ chant of "Go, team, go!" filled the stadium. (A group shout, similar to a war-cry.)

Related Idioms

• Cry havoc: to give a signal for attack or destruction (from Shakespeare).

  • The leader cried havoc, and the battle began. (To initiate a violent action, akin to a war-cry.)

• Raise the roof: to make a lot of noise, often in celebration or protest.

  • The crowd raised the roof with their war-cry. (To create a loud, enthusiastic uproar.)