militant

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

Synonyms of militant

• 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

an angry and militant speech

political radicals with a militant unwillingness to compromise on any issue

Recent Examples on the Web

The Israeli military struck targets in Beirut's suburbs on Sunday after the militant group Hezbollah launched projectiles toward Israel, Reuters reported. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 15 June 2026

Most of Gaza’s 2 million residents remain displaced amid devastation and severe shortages, as new Israeli strikes on crowded areas kill children and other civilians Israel labels militant targets. —Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026

At a weekly news conference in Islamabad, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Thursday that the strikes were conducted in response to multiple recent militant attacks inside the country. —ABC News, 11 June 2026

When Israel first battled Hezbollah in the 1980s, the militant group was new and inexperienced. —Greg Myre, NPR, 10 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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