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Meaning of catalytic war | Babel Free

Noun CEFR B2

Definitions

A war initiated by one party and continued by others.

Examples

“By this definition, World War I was a catalytic war, set off by Serbia and Austria, which also had some overtones of "reciprocal fear of surprise attack" and "self-fulfilling prophecy," because the side which mobilized first was likely to win.”
“Indeed a catalytic war seems much more likely to be touched off by a desperate or vengeful power than an ambitious one.”

CEFR level

B2
Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.
See all B2 English words →

See also

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