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battle cry

battle cry

8 3.9
A loud shout or short phrase that encourages people to act together
  • noun
  • /ˈbætəl kraɪ/
translation icon : grito de guerra
  • The phrase "freedom for all" became a powerful battle cry during the protest.
  • screaming their battle cry
  • hear the battle cry
  • become a battle cry

As the famous suffragette battle cry put it, they want deeds, not words.

Examples

  • The enemy uses the very name as their battle cry!

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Remember the colonists' battle cry, "We have no King but Jesus."

    Blog text (18)
  • You even came up with their battle cry.

  • The battle cry was your first mistake.

  • It's an old battle cry from our American revolution.

  • "Save the Environment" has become the battle cry of the decade.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!

  • As the famous suffragette battle cry put it, they want deeds, not words.

  • You could even hear the battle cries of the class struggle on festive occasions, such as the First of May.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Herzl concluded Der Judenstaat with the battle cry, "The Maccabees will rise again."

    Blog text (12)

Synonyms

cheer
vsbattle cry
205 1.0

A loud shout people make to show approval or support

aims more at rallying people into action, not only approval
shout
vsbattle cry
162 1.0

A loud cry to get attention or show strong feeling

specifically aims to unite and motivate groups to act together
cry
vsbattle cry
110 4.9

A short phrase used to show strong support for a cause

is louder and more tied to military or urgent action
rallying cry
vsbattle cry
12 5.6

A short word or phrase that encourages people to unite and act for a cause

is more often yelled in combat or intense confrontations
call to arms
vsbattle cry
  • Formal
9 5.9

A strong appeal for people to take action for a cause

is a vocal, immediate cry rather than a formal or written appeal
war cry
vsbattle cry
2 4.3

A loud shout to encourage or rally people before a battle

is similar but can also rally people for nonmilitary causes
war whoop
vsbattle cry
  • Archaic
1 8.8

A loud, high shout warriors make to gather their group or scare the enemy

is used the same way but also for modern causes outside combat
loud holler
vsbattle cry
  • US
1 4.1

A very loud shout to show strong feeling or get attention

focuses on rallying others to action rather than just drawing attention
halloo
vsbattle cry
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A loud shout to call dogs in a hunt or get someone's attention

is intended to motivate and unite people for a cause or fight
hollo
vsbattle cry
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A very loud cry like an animal's call made by a person

is meant to inspire or rally a group to act together
alala
vsbattle cry
  • Archaic
9.9

A loud cry made by people in war or during victory

is broader, also used to motivate nonmilitary groups
holloa
vsbattle cry
  • Archaic
9.9

A loud shout to get attention from far away

serves to gather and urge people into collective action instead

Antonyms

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

39 4.9

Not doing anything when something should be done

How Rousing

rallying cry
12 5.6
battle cry
8 3.9
to chant
178 4.4
slogan
202 2.5
motto
153 3.0

Surface Forms

battle cry singular
battle cries plural

Morphology

battle + cry

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'battle' (a fight or campaign) with 'cry' (a shout or slogan); a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a rallying shout or slogan used in battle or for a cause. This noun–noun compounding is a straightforward compositional pattern found across languages, making the expression predictable and transparent.

Etymology

The phrase battle cry comes from real battles, where leaders or soldiers shouted a loud, short cry to give courage and bring people together. So today a battle cry is any short shout or slogan used to 'encourage' or 'rally' people for a cause.