Definition of MILITANTNESS

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 key perpetrator was leader of the Surabaya cell of an Indonesian militant network that professes loyalty to the Islamic State group. — Washington Post, "Indonesia passes new terror law after attacks using children," 25 May 2018 His forces are credited with helping dismantle ISIS militant networks across Iraq and Syria by killing and capturing thousands of insurgent leaders. — W.j. Hennigan, Time, "Trump's Pick to Oversee Afghanistan Could Signal a New Approach," 23 May 2018 The Treasury Department accused the men of secretly funneling millions of dollars through an Iraqi bank to help Hezbollah, the militant network that the U.S. considers a terrorist group. — Josh Lederman, Fox News, "US intensifies pressure on Iran, sanctioning central banker," 16 May 2018 Indonesian President Joko Widodo condemned the attacks as ‘‘barbaric’’ and vowed that authorities would root out and destroy Islamic militant networks. — Niniek Karmini, BostonGlobe.com, "Another Indonesia suicide bombing attributed to family," 14 May 2018 In recent years, the country has faced a new threat as the rise of the Islamic State group in the Middle East invigorated local militant networks. — Bloomberg.com, "8 Dead, Nearly 40 Wounded as Bombs Hit 3 Indonesian Churches," 13 May 2018 The militant group’s defeat sets the stage for President Donald Trump to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from northern Syria, a drawdown that’s expected to set off a race to fill the vacuum. — Sarah El Deeb, The Seattle Times, "Syria’s Assad: Last man standing amid new Arab uprisings," 13 Apr. 2019 Today’s militant secularists ironically resemble the worst caricatures of religious intolerance of early America. — William Mcgurn, WSJ, "The Shaming of Karen Pence," 21 Jan. 2019 There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attack bore the hallmarks of the local Islamic State affiliate which spearheads a militant insurgency in northern Sinai. — Ashraf Sweilam, The Seattle Times, "Roadside bomb hits police convoy in Egypt’s Sinai, kills 1," 14 Jan. 2019

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