1
as in military
of, relating to, or suitable for war or a warrior
the marching band played "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and several other martial airs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in naval
of or relating to the armed services
one of the basic tenets of martial law
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of martial
The Swedish actor and martial artist was an action movie staple throughout the '80s and '90s, starring in films like The Punisher and Showdown in Little Tokyo.
—
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026
Two presidents, two reckonings In February, a Seoul court sentenced former President Yoon to life in prison for the martial-law attempt; his former defense minister got 30 years.
—Joohee Cho, ABC News, 4 June 2026
The heroism of Shaw, a white man, and his Black comrades lay not just in their martial valor but in their willingness to work together, at great risk, to test whether the ancient American ideal of unity amid diversity could survive their riven nation.
—Trygve Throntveit, Time, 27 May 2026
When Japanese General Miura (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi ) begins organizing brutal matches between his occupying soldiers and Chinese martial artists, Ip Man agrees to a public fight with Miura himself.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for martial
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026
Two presidents, two reckonings In February, a Seoul court sentenced former President Yoon to life in prison for the martial-law attempt; his former defense minister got 30 years.
—Joohee Cho, ABC News, 4 June 2026
The heroism of Shaw, a white man, and his Black comrades lay not just in their martial valor but in their willingness to work together, at great risk, to test whether the ancient American ideal of unity amid diversity could survive their riven nation.
—Trygve Throntveit, Time, 27 May 2026
When Japanese General Miura (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi ) begins organizing brutal matches between his occupying soldiers and Chinese martial artists, Ip Man agrees to a public fight with Miura himself.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for martial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martial
Adjective
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Each incident remains under separate investigation by federal or military authorities, officials have said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
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Trump reiterated that military action remains on the table if Iran does not comply with their agreement.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
Adjective
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French, American, British and other naval crews already have experience of escorting civilian ships through hostile fire in the region.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
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Albanian naval officer Bamir Kundreti, who is 56 years old, lived with his family on Sazan for eight years after 1991 as a torpedo boat commander.—
Marzio G. Mian,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Participants in these programs should earn a career credential and a meaningful set of benefits — like tuition support, apprenticeship credits, or a wage subsidy that follows them into their first post-service job.—
Belonging Forum,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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The atmosphere is counter-service utilitarian, and there isn't a bar anywhere in sight.—
Mark DeJoy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Martial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martial. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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