guerrilla

noun

guer·ril·la | \gə-ˈri-lə,

ge-, g(y)i-\

variants: or guerilla

Definition of guerrilla

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a person who engages in irregular warfare especially as a member of an independent unit carrying out harassment and sabotage (see sabotage sense 2) Guerrillas controlled half the country.

guerrilla

adjective

Definition of guerrilla (Entry 2 of 2)

: of, relating to, or suggestive of guerrillas especially in being aggressive, radical, or unconventional guerrilla warfare

Examples of guerrilla in a Sentence

Noun

The guerrillas controlled half the country.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

But many see the ageing guerrilla himself as part of the problem. — The Economist, "Uganda’s politicised police force is not reducing crime," 5 July 2018 But Duterte delayed the resumption indefinitely to allow public consultations, antagonizing the guerrillas. — Jim Gomez, Fox News, "Philippines wants rebels 'encamped' in fixed areas for talks," 4 July 2018 At the peak of drug cartel violence in the 1980s and early 1990s, four presidential candidates were assassinated, and the guerrillas made voting impossible in some areas. — Matthew Bristow, Bloomberg.com, "Colombia Elects Pro-Market Lawyer Duque in Presidential Runoff," 17 June 2018 Posada is tracking that trend in another landscape once occupied by guerrillas: the rainy, high-altitude páramo of Chingaza national park, a treeless ecosystem that supplies 80% of Bogotá's water. — Lizzie Wade, Science | AAAS, "Colombian scientists race to study once-forbidden territory before it is lost to development—or new conflict," 26 Apr. 2018 The deal will see Mr. Machar, the veteran guerrilla fighter turned opposition leader as one of four new vice presidents based in new regional capitals, part of a revitalized transitional government deal to end the conflict. — Nicholas Bariyo, WSJ, "South Sudan’s Exiled Former Vice President Offered Power-Sharing Deal," 8 July 2018 Other rebels, however, said that Sison's recommendation would still have to be approved by other guerrilla leaders. — Jim Gomez, Fox News, "Philippines wants rebels 'encamped' in fixed areas for talks," 4 July 2018 Since a revolt broke out two months ago, the former Marxist guerrilla leader has lost control over most of the country, including this city 17 miles south of the capital Managua. — Juan Montes, WSJ, "Barricades and Empty Streets: Nicaragua’s Leader Loses Control," 18 June 2018 Many accused of war crimes have avoided prison, and past guerrilla fighters now sit in the Colombia congress. — Renae Reints, Fortune, "Populist Conservative Iván Duque Elected President of Colombia," 18 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Maybe a little too guerrilla style for some of the crews. — Gary Thompson, Philly.com, "Tommy Chong: 'The whole reason for making marijuana illegal was to prosecute black and brown people'," 5 Apr. 2018 Her interviews were guerrilla achievements and global events. — Dwight Garner, New York Times, "The Life of Oriana Fallaci, Guerrilla Journalist," 16 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'guerrilla.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.