1
a
: one engaged in military service and especially in the army
b
: an enlisted man or woman
c
: a skilled warrior
2
: a militant leader, follower, or worker
3
a
: one of a caste of wingless sterile termites usually differing from workers in larger size and head and long jaws
b
: one of a type of worker ants distinguished by exceptionally large head and jaws
4
ˈsō-jər 
ˈsōl-
: one who shirks work
soldiered; soldiering
ˈsōl-jə-riŋ
ˈsōlj-riŋ
1
a
: to serve as a soldier
b
: to behave in a soldierly manner
c
: to push doggedly forward
—usually used with on
soldiered on to the end
2
: to make a pretense of working while really loafing
Synonyms
Examples of soldier in a Sentence
Noun
Many soldiers were wounded in combat.
one of the goals of war is to keep as many soldiers as possible from being killed
Recent Examples on the Web
Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The movie ends on a tableau of soldiers at the climax of a battle scene.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2024
Israeli soldiers are prohibited from bringing phones and filming military activities in Gaza.
—Matt Gutman, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2024
It was likely used by infantry soldiers, according to the releases, and had wooden floors and a roof.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
After months of deliberation, Ukraine's parliament yesterday passed a law to mobilize hundreds of thousands of new soldiers.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
Five of them would go off to the Civil War as Union soldiers.
—Robert Draper, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Tomer-Yerushalmi specifically cited the theft or destruction by soldiers of civilian property, soldiers singing Hebrew songs and mocking Palestinians inside a mosque, and the excessive use of force, including against detainees.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
In a bold slap at the military, Dr. Almada once proposed that teacher salaries be raised to match soldiers’ pay.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 3 May 2023
Los Angeles students and school employees soldiered through a challenging, drenching Monday — with about 63% of students and about 90% of teachers and other staff making their way to campuses as the city worked through the 10th wettest day ever recorded locally.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2024
As Margot Robbie soldiers through awards season in vibrant Barbiecore, other stars are opting for a softer shade of pink.
—Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 9 Jan. 2024
Despite legions of folks online who like to insist otherwise, having an epidural to ease the pain or soldiering through those contractions med-free are both perfectly fine choices.
—Kristi Pahr, Parents, 8 Sep. 2023
The little prince soldiered through the festivities though not without some signature cheeky facial expressions.
—Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 6 May 2023
If China tries to soldier through its outbreak, without reimposing public health measures or ramping up vaccinations, scientists are concerned that many more may needlessly die.
—Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2022
By hoarding minerals, the hollow osteoderms could have allowed Rapetosaurus to soldier on in an unforgiving environment.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 2 Dec. 2011
The city’s designers, respectfully, chose to soldier on.
—Elizabeth Paton, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2022
Noun
Real images come to mind like that of the American soldiers hung from a bridge in Fallujah, Iraq, or the U.S. Marine dragged through the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The movie ends on a tableau of soldiers at the climax of a battle scene.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2024
Israeli soldiers are prohibited from bringing phones and filming military activities in Gaza.
—Matt Gutman, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2024
It was likely used by infantry soldiers, according to the releases, and had wooden floors and a roof.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
After months of deliberation, Ukraine's parliament yesterday passed a law to mobilize hundreds of thousands of new soldiers.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
Five of them would go off to the Civil War as Union soldiers.
—Robert Draper, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Tomer-Yerushalmi specifically cited the theft or destruction by soldiers of civilian property, soldiers singing Hebrew songs and mocking Palestinians inside a mosque, and the excessive use of force, including against detainees.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
In a bold slap at the military, Dr. Almada once proposed that teacher salaries be raised to match soldiers’ pay.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
Protect Whoopi Goldberg and Sara Haines' cue cards from massive water spillages at all costs, for the ladies of The View are soldiering through the ongoing Hollywood writers strike by relying on small pieces of paper.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 3 May 2023
Los Angeles students and school employees soldiered through a challenging, drenching Monday — with about 63% of students and about 90% of teachers and other staff making their way to campuses as the city worked through the 10th wettest day ever recorded locally.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2024
As Margot Robbie soldiers through awards season in vibrant Barbiecore, other stars are opting for a softer shade of pink.
—Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 9 Jan. 2024
Despite legions of folks online who like to insist otherwise, having an epidural to ease the pain or soldiering through those contractions med-free are both perfectly fine choices.
—Kristi Pahr, Parents, 8 Sep. 2023
The little prince soldiered through the festivities though not without some signature cheeky facial expressions.
—Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 6 May 2023
If China tries to soldier through its outbreak, without reimposing public health measures or ramping up vaccinations, scientists are concerned that many more may needlessly die.
—Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2022
By hoarding minerals, the hollow osteoderms could have allowed Rapetosaurus to soldier on in an unforgiving environment.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 2 Dec. 2011
The city’s designers, respectfully, chose to soldier on.
—Elizabeth Paton, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soldier.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Soldier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soldier. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
soldier
1 of 2 noun
sol·dier
ˈsōl-jər
1
a
: a person in military service and especially in the army
b
: an enlisted person
2
: a worker in something strongly believed in
3
: a termite or ant with a large head and jaws that is a member of a caste that protects the colony
soldierly
adjective
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