scars of war

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrasefigurative

   The lasting physical or emotional damage left on people, places, or societies after a war.

   Grammar: Used as a plural noun phrase; often with 'the' or 'its'.

   Patterns

   • the scars of war
   • bear the scars of war
   • heal the scars of war

   The village still shows the scars of war: broken walls and empty streets.

   Many soldiers carry the scars of war long after they come home.

   The exhibition explores the scars of war through photographs and letters.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   Visible marks or damage on buildings, land, or objects caused by fighting.

   Grammar: Used literally for physical damage; often in the plural.

   Patterns

   • scars of war on something
   • leave scars of war

   Bullet holes in the walls are the scars of war that tourists still see.

   The landscape bears the scars of war in the form of craters and trenches.

Common combinations

bear the scars of war

The old city still bears the scars of war.

heal the scars of war

It takes generations to heal the scars of war.

emotional scars of war

The emotional scars of war can last a lifetime.

visible scars of war

The visible scars of war are easier to repair than the hidden ones.

Synonyms and how they differ

war wounds

Usually refers to physical injuries; 'scars of war' is broader and often figurative.

aftermath of war

Focuses on the period and situation after a war, not the lasting marks themselves.

Opposites

Word family

war scar noun

A single lasting mark or injury from war.

war-torn adjective

Badly damaged by war, as in 'a war-torn country'.

Commonly confused: scars of war or war scars?

Practice

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