as in soldier
a person, group, or country that fights in a war or battle
Britain was a major combatant in World War II.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of combatant
Nevertheless, Kirk believed that his calling from God was to be a fighter, a combatant in the culture wars.
—
Michael Luo, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Encounters require both navigating the space with the trainer to avoid getting knocked out and issuing commands to your own combatants to win the fight.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
What went into choreographing a fight between two superhuman combatants?
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 23 Sep. 2025
Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza has killed more than 65,000 Palestinian people, according to the territory’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
—Paula Newton, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combatant
Michael Luo, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Encounters require both navigating the space with the trainer to avoid getting knocked out and issuing commands to your own combatants to win the fight.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
What went into choreographing a fight between two superhuman combatants?
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 23 Sep. 2025
Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza has killed more than 65,000 Palestinian people, according to the territory’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
—Paula Newton, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combatant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combatant
Noun
-
Previously, a court order was required to collect the samples from fallen soldiers.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Jerusalem — On a hot Friday morning in September, dozens of Israelis turned up at Gaza’s border fence – not as soldiers, but as dissenters.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In the thirteenth century, the site became a cemetery for warriors who fought in the Crusades.—
Ryan Byrnes,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Infamous gossip columnist Hedda Hopper had weaponized her column to attack the free speech warriors on the CFA and defend HUAC’s crusade.—
Chris Yogerst,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Thrilla in Manila between the two fighters stands as a testament to each of their enduring legacies of perseverance.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
1 Oct. 2025
-
One of Kerr’s colleagues, Mark Coleman, is played by real-life MMA fighter Ryan Bader, one of several non-professional actors who give The Smashing Machine the pleasing texture of lived-in credibility.—
Richard Lawson,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But then, the state police were called in because the mall didn’t have enough security—that’s my understanding—so state troopers came in and shut it down.—
Anna Moeslein,
Glamour,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The cult hit comedy franchise Super Troopers revolves around the shenanigans of a group of Vermont state troopers who are slacker pranksters first and foremost.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combatant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combatant. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share