"crusades" in the noun sense

1. campaign, cause, crusade, drive, movement, effort

a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end

"he supported populist campaigns"

"they worked in the cause of world peace"

"the team was ready for a drive toward the pennant"

"the movement to end slavery"

"contributed to the war effort"

2. Crusade

any of the more or less continuous military expeditions in the 11th to 13th centuries when Christian powers of Europe tried to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims

"crusades" in the verb sense

1. crusade, fight, press, campaign, push, agitate

exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person be an advocate for

"The liberal party pushed for reforms"

"She is crusading for women's rights"

"The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate"

2. crusade

go on a crusade fight a holy war

Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)

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