When the term "crusade" is used to refer to a noble quest, the groups who suffered from the original medieval crusades are not happy.
Source: tatoeba (2355485)
Crusade
/kɹuːˈseɪd/
Synonyms for "crusade" (49 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (10)
Strong matches (15)
Verb(1 words)
Related words (24)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: campaign, drive, movement, activity, advocate.
- Sentence evidence is available for crusade, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "crusade".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "crusade"
Keep "crusade" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "crusade" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "crusade", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "crusade" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesactivismadvertiseadvertizeadvocacycampaigncampaigningeffortexpeditionhostile expeditionmilitary campaignmilitary expeditionpromotepushreligious wartake the field
Showing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
11 entriesChildren's CrusadeFirst CrusadeSecond Crusadeholy warmilitary expeditionmoral crusadepolicy drivepublic campaignreform crusadereform drivesocial campaign
Collocations
8 entriesanti drug crusadecrusade against povertycrusade for reformcrusading movementmilitary campaignmoral crusadepublic crusadereligious crusade
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriessimilar
4 entriesSample sentences
15 total sentences available.
The American government has recently been on a crusade to wipe out drug trafficking.
Source: tatoeba (2575703)
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
Source: tatoeba (5287242)
Bush wanted a crusade against Islam.
Source: tatoeba (8262818)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "crusade"?
Closest matches include campaign, drive, movement, activity, advocate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "crusade"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.