Meaning & use
trench warfare
A style of combat in which opposing armies fight from long defensive ditches dug into the ground.
See it in a sentence
Trench warfare on the Western Front led to enormous casualties for very little land gained.
Soldiers endured freezing mud and constant shelling during years of trench warfare.
A note on using this word
The term is strongly associated with World War I and is also used figuratively for a slow, grinding conflict with little progress.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A prolonged, grinding conflict or negotiation in which neither side makes much progress.
The budget talks turned into trench warfare, with neither party willing to compromise.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “trench warfare”, then compare your use with the examples above.