When it comes to talking about military conflicts, there are many ways to describe actions that amount to war. Some synonyms for "makes war" include "fights," "engages," "battles," "confronts," "attacks," "struggles," and "combats." Each of these words has slightly different connotations, but they all suggest some kind of active, often violent struggle between opposing forces. "Fights" and "engages" are more general terms that can describe any kind of battle or confrontation, while "attacks" and "combats" are more specific to military actions. "Battles" and "confronts" suggest a more direct, face-to-face kind of engagement, while "struggles" implies a less focused or more prolonged conflict.