Synonyms of militant

militant 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmi-lə-tənt 

1

as in aggressive

feeling or displaying eagerness to fight

political radicals with a militant unwillingness to compromise on any issue

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aggressive
• hostile
• belligerent
• warlike
• contentious
• combative
• confrontational
• irritable
• assaultive
• pugnacious
• bellicose
• fierce
• feisty
• ugly
• acidic
• truculent
• savage
• agonistic
• quarrelsome
• vicious
• argumentative
• scrappy
• gladiatorial
• chippy
• disputatious
• antagonistic
• discordant
• on the warpath
• rude
• brawly
• fighting
• cross
• warring
• irascible
• ornery
• petulant
• peevish
• fractious
• waspish
• disagreeable
• fretful
• bilious
• querulous
• surly
• hot-tempered
• dyspeptic
• choleric
• battling
• bristly
• grouchy
• snappish
• grumpy
• testy
• stroppy
• crabby
• pettish
• huffy
• touchy
• ill-tempered
• bearish
• ill-humored
• cranky
• prickly
• ill-natured
• snappy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peaceful
• peaceable
• nonaggressive
• pacific
• unwarlike
• benevolent
• friendly
• conciliatory
• nonbelligerent
• pleasant
• amiable
• cordial
• good-natured
• antimilitarist
• gracious
• genial
• easygoing
• amicable
• sociable
• affable
• uncontentious
• quiet
• kindhearted
• unbelligerent
• calm
• anti-imperialist
• complaisant
• uncombative
• ingratiating
• obliging
• serene
• mild
• benign
• tranquil
• gentle
• relaxed
• good-tempered
• kindly

2

as in ambitious

having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal

militant protestors refusing to disperse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aggressive
• ambitious
• fierce
• adventurous
• vigorous
• in-your-face
• enterprising
• assertive
• energetic
• high-pressure
• pushy
• confident
• daring
• belligerent
• warlike
• go-getting
• combative
• self-assertive
• pugnacious
• bellicose
• dynamic
• bold
• truculent
• self-asserting
• quarrelsome
• contentious
• gladiatorial
• argumentative
• strenuous
• emphatic
• trigger-happy
• domineering
• insolent
• unapologetic
• determined
• disputatious
• overambitious
• hyperaggressive
• hustling
• obtrusive
• impudent
• feisty
• emboldened
• discordant
• cocky
• adventuresome
• bumptious
• gung ho
• venturous
• brassy
• venturesome
• overconfident
• gutsy
• cheeky
• brash
• dashing
• overbearing
• audacious
• cocksure
• unyielding
• scrappy
• dominating
• bare-knuckles
• magisterial
• presumptuous
• unsubdued
• imperious
• bare-knuckled
• forward
• bare-knuckle
• lordly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unaggressive
• low-pressure
• unassertive
• unambitious
• easygoing
• docile
• relaxed
• nonassertive
• submissive
• compliant
• acquiescent
• deferential
• passive
• unenterprising
• amenable
• ambitionless
• timid
• tractable
• mild
• yielding
• subdued
• resigned
• humble
• quiet
• shrinking
• meek
• modest
• laid-back
• lowly
• shy
• bashful
• diffident
• mousy
• unobtrusive
• reserved
• servile
• demure
• slavish
• subservient
• obsequious
• retiring
• grovelling
• mousey
• cowering
• overmodest
• cringing
• groveling

militant

2 of 2

noun

as in partisan

one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause

militants within the movement insisted that there could be no compromise on the issue

Synonyms & Similar Words

• partisan
• activist
• crusader
• zealot
• supporter
• fanatic
• advocate
• ideologue
• fan
• partizan
• true believer
• idealogue
• promoter
• disciple
• red hot
• idealist
• follower
• visionary
• champion
• dreamer
• lover
• enthusiast
• devotee
• patron
• apostle
• maniac
• stalwart
• votary
• evangelist
• cultist
• fancier
• junkie
• buff
• addict
• freak
• sucker
• hound
• hanger-on
• fiend
• nut
• fool
• aficionado
• backer
• bug
• booster
• junky
• habitue
• habitué
• idolizer
• faddist
• head
• maven
• afficionado
• mavin
• well-wisher
• rooter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dilettante
• nonmilitant
• dabbler

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective militant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of militant are aggressive, assertive, and self-assertive. While all these words mean "obtrusively energetic especially in pursuing particular goals," 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

When would aggressive be a good substitute for militant?

The synonyms aggressive and militant are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

In what contexts can assertive take the place of militant?

In some situations, the words assertive and militant are roughly equivalent. However, assertive suggests bold self-confidence in expression of opinion.

the more assertive speakers dominated the forum

When is it sensible to use self-assertive instead of militant?

The words self-assertive and militant can be used in similar contexts, but self-assertive connotes forwardness or brash self-confidence.

a self-assertive young upstart

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of militant

Adjective

The unidentified suspect is believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State militant group, known as ISIS, according to a statement from Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025

Two decades later, amid ongoing unrest along the Line of Control, a deadly attack claimed by the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group against a convoy of Indian paramilitary forces set the stage for the last major cross-border confrontation in 2019. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025

Israel’s government has long accused UNRWA of turning a blind eye to employees who support or belong to Hamas, the militant organization that led a terror attack on Israel in October 2023. —Guy Davies, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2025

The attack at Pahalgam on Tuesday was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), which is an offshoot of Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025