combatant

noun

Definition of combatantnext
as in soldier
a person, group, or country that fights in a war or battle Britain was a major combatant in World War II.

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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 An Anti-Defamation League audit of antisemitic incidents found that attacks increased by 30% between 2024 and 2025, a rise that Mamdani recognized while touting investments in hate crime combatants. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 24 July 2026 Though for the past few months Musk has fought like a combatant in the Trojan War to drum up controversy over Nolan’s film, his efforts have failed spectacularly. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 22 July 2026 The ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, is staffed by medical professionals who maintain detailed records viewed as generally reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts. — ABC News, 19 July 2026 Kermanpour did not break down the figures between civilians and combatants. — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for combatant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combatant
  1. soldier
  2. fighter
  3. warrior
  4. trooper
Noun
  • Ormund seemingly isn’t scared to learn that enough soldiers to fill a basketball arena are about to bang down the door.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Saldaña plays Joe McNamara, a CIA station chief leading the covert Lioness unit, which recruits and trains female soldiers for global counter-terrorism missions, balancing this with a challenging family life.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of soldier
Noun
  • Another billboard shows what appears to be a fighter, wearing a shirt with Khamenei’s portrait on it.
    — Todd Symons, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The communication drills are intended to encourage first-line fighters to be more self-reliant and effective in battle, experts say.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of fighter
Noun
  • Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster has kicked off debates about geopolitics, a dark-skinned woman as Helen of Troy and a trans actor playing a Greek warrior.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The finale, set in autumn, concerns an accident of nature—a warrior is struck by lightning, in full view of Murashige and his other men—that turns out not to have been so accidental.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 July 2026
Definition of warrior
Noun
  • Back at the base, the team is still bickering with the other troopers.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Hicks said an off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen — whose identities weren't immediately disclosed — both fired back and diverted the gunman from the restaurant.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of trooper

Browse Nearby Words

combat
combatant
combatants
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Cite this Entry

“Combatant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combatant. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on combatant

Nglish: Translation of combatant for Spanish Speakers

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