militant

1 of 2

adjective

mil·​i·​tant ˈmi-lə-tənt 

1

: engaged in warfare or combat : fighting

2

: aggressively active (as in a cause) : combative

militant conservationists

a militant attitude

militant noun

militantly adverb

militantness noun

militantness

2 of 2

noun

mil·​i·​tant·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being militant

Synonyms of militant

Adjective

• aggressive
• hostile

Choose the Right Synonym for militant

aggressive, militant, assertive, self-assertive mean obtrusively energetic especially in pursuing particular goals.

aggressive implies a disposition to dominate often in disregard of others' rights or in determined and energetic pursuit of one's ends.

aggressive in his business dealings

militant also implies a fighting disposition but suggests not self-seeking but devotion to a cause, movement, or principle.

militant protesters rallied against the new law

assertive suggests bold self-confidence in expression of opinion.

the more assertive speakers dominated the forum

self-assertive connotes forwardness or brash self-confidence.

a self-assertive young upstart

Examples of militant in a Sentence

Adjective

an angry and militant speech

political radicals with a militant unwillingness to compromise on any issue

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

That 2023 event saw Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups kill 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals and abduct 251 people. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026

In early September, 1972, a Palestinian militant group called Black September infiltrated the Olympic Games in Munich and killed eleven Israeli athletes. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

On Wednesday, the militant group claimed to have targeted eight Saudi oil tankers since late July – when the blockade was declared – including three in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, the Houthi-run Saba news agency said. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

More than 100 militant and other armed groups operate in eastern Congo, including the ADF and CODECO militia in Ituri. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

militant

adjective

mil·​i·​tant ˈmil-ə-tənt 

1

: being at war

2

: aggressively active especially in a cause

militant protesters

militant noun

militantly adverb

militantness noun