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
This week, the hard realities of the office have threatened to overshadow the ostentatious UFC mixed martial arts extravaganza, where combatants sealed inside a wire-mesh octagon try to punch, kick, chop and pummel each other into submission.
—
ABC News,
14 June 2026
Trump had been touting the emerging deal for weeks and the continuing conflict threatened to overshadow the UFC mixed martial arts extravaganza, where combatants inside a wire-mesh Octagon tried to punch, kick, chop and pummel each other into submission.
—
Will Weissert,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
Ancient arenas typically had a gladiator-training facility nearby, so that combatants could march in procession to the arena.
—
Cullen Murphy,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
Israel's ensuing offensive in Gaza has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, including combatants and civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
—
CBS News,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for combatant
ABC News,
14 June 2026
Trump had been touting the emerging deal for weeks and the continuing conflict threatened to overshadow the UFC mixed martial arts extravaganza, where combatants inside a wire-mesh Octagon tried to punch, kick, chop and pummel each other into submission.
—
Will Weissert,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
Ancient arenas typically had a gladiator-training facility nearby, so that combatants could march in procession to the arena.
—
Cullen Murphy,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
Israel's ensuing offensive in Gaza has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, including combatants and civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
—
CBS News,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for combatant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combatant
Noun
-
Four Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon overnight Friday in the first Israeli deaths since the signing of the Iran ceasefire deal.
-
Civilians in the area have not been instructed to evacuate but have faced checkpoints and tension, with occasional clashes between Israeli soldiers and villagers.
Noun
-
ElAttrache performed surgery on McGregor in July 2021, inserting a rod, plates and screws into his left leg after the fighter broke his tibia and fibula during a mixed martial arts bout against Dustin Poirier in Las Vegas.
-
Rather than flying directly over enemy territory, strategic bombers can launch stand-off weapons from safer distances while remaining protected by friendly air defenses and fighter escorts.
Noun
-
Blood drives like the one at the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Michigan Chapter in Detroit aren't just increasing the general blood supply, but also the supply to treat those living with the disease, also known as warriors.
-
Over the past decade, Osees have reinvented themselves as prog-metal warriors, hardcore agitators, and synth-punk freaks, investing each new permutation with the same degree of blitzkrieg aggression.
Noun
-
The training brought together deputies, officers and troopers from agencies spanning rural communities across the state, including mountain towns and eastern plains communities.
-
At least two people were transported to a hospital and six people died in the fire, troopers wrote.
Cite this Entry
“Combatant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combatant. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
