militant

mil·i·tant

adjective \-tənt\

Definition of MILITANT

1

: engaged in warfare or combat : fighting

2

: aggressively active (as in a cause) : combative <militant conservationists> <a militant attitude>

— militant noun

— mil·i·tant·ly adverb

— mil·i·tant·ness noun

Examples of MILITANT

1. an angry and militant speech
2. <political radicals with a militant unwillingness to compromise on any issue>

First Known Use of MILITANT

15th century

Related to MILITANT

Synonyms

aggressive, agonistic, argumentative, assaultive, bellicose, brawly, chippy, combative, confrontational, contentious, discordant, disputatious, feisty, gladiatorial, belligerent, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike

Antonyms

nonaggressive, nonbelligerent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, unbelligerent, uncombative, uncontentious

Related Words

antagonistic, fierce, hostile, hot-tempered; acidic, bearish, bilious, bristly, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, disagreeable, dyspeptic, fractious, fretful, grouchy, grumpy, huffy, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, irascible, irritable, ornery, peevish, pettish, petulant, prickly, querulous, rude, snappish, snappy, stroppy [British], surly, testy, touchy, ugly, waspish; savage, vicious; battling, fighting, warring

Near Antonyms

anti-imperialist, antimilitarist, unwarlike; affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, complaisant, conciliatory, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, ingratiating, kindhearted, obliging, pleasant, sociable; calm, quiet, relaxed, serene, tranquil; benign, gentle, kindly, mild

See Synonym Discussion at aggressive