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
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Recent Examples of combatant
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
While the announcement may appear to focus on a single industrial component, the AG9160RF plays a critical role aboard some of the Navy’s most advanced surface combatants.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
The service was also facing the retirement of older, larger ships and was looking for ways to maintain its fleet size with smaller surface combatants that could be built more quickly and cheaply than bigger vessels, the report said.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Responding to Toboso According to officials, all of those killed in a series of clashes were combatants of the NPA, a Maoist guerrilla group that seeks to seize political power from Manila.
—Patrick Peralta, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for combatant
CBS News, 7 June 2026
While the announcement may appear to focus on a single industrial component, the AG9160RF plays a critical role aboard some of the Navy’s most advanced surface combatants.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
The service was also facing the retirement of older, larger ships and was looking for ways to maintain its fleet size with smaller surface combatants that could be built more quickly and cheaply than bigger vessels, the report said.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Responding to Toboso According to officials, all of those killed in a series of clashes were combatants of the NPA, a Maoist guerrilla group that seeks to seize political power from Manila.
—Patrick Peralta, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for combatant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combatant
Noun
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Video has emerged that appears to counter the Israeli military’s account of an incident in which a soldier opened fire on a car carrying a family and killed their 7-month-old baby Sam Abu Haikal.—
Sarah Dean,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
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American soldiers liberated the camp months later, finding Haller at just 55 pounds and very sick.—
Jessica Tzikas,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Clark County prosecutors slapped the 49-year-old fighter with two serious felony charges, including theft of property valued over $100,000 and passing a check with intent to defraud.—
Alejandro Avila,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
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His ouster triggered years of violence between Seleka fighters and predominantly Christian Anti-balaka militias, leaving thousands of civilians dead.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Ambition meets heart as the temperamental Moon in your 10th House of Career conjoins warrior Mars there, sharpening visibility and focus.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
12 June 2026
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To follow the Nakasendo is to walk in the footsteps of merchants and warriors, poets and pilgrims—and to write your own story into its centuries-old landscape.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The trooper was able to perform a traffic stop and said that the driver was heavily intoxicated.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
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State police troopers, officers from the Butler Police Department and deputies from the Bates County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and are assisting with the crash investigation, the outlets reported.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Combatant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combatant. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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