as in soldiers
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 combatants
Above the surface, the navy has 122 surface combatants, which include 11 aircraft carriers, 11 cruisers and 74 destroyers.
—
Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Across the world, for all military battles where such data is available, the average army kills nine enemy non-combatants for every fighter killed.
—Oded J K Faran, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
Under the law, unarmed combatants held in military custody are allowed to protest their detention in court.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2025
Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
The combatants supposedly have a $2 million side bet.
—Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
In Israel's ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025
In Israel’s ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly 170,000 wounded, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
The war has already killed over 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Across the world, for all military battles where such data is available, the average army kills nine enemy non-combatants for every fighter killed.
—Oded J K Faran, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
Under the law, unarmed combatants held in military custody are allowed to protest their detention in court.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2025
Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
The combatants supposedly have a $2 million side bet.
—Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
In Israel's ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025
In Israel’s ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly 170,000 wounded, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
The war has already killed over 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combatants
Noun
-
The official said the terrorist group attacked Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers in Rafah.—
Greg Norman , Trey Yingst,
FOXNews.com,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The concept even included plans for soldiers to parachute in, plant the bomb, and escape (hopefully).—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
West Memphis police took over the pursuit with assistance from state troopers, the release says.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Oct. 2025
-
More charges are possible, troopers said.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Handpicked by the expert Vogue team, the collection will satisfy even the most discerning of skincare savants, wellness warriors, makeup maestros, hair aficionados and jewelry junkies.—
Ellie Davis,
Vogue,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Most commonsense Americans understand that there is no reason paying America's warriors should be held hostage to arcane debates over housing policy.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Gripen fighters have the reputation of being relatively cheap and easy to maintain and arm, and able to operate in austere conditions – using roads or even dirt roads for runways.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Taking advantage of that power is the enigmatic and feminine Makima, who runs the Public Safety Division, a group of Devil fighters that includes Aki, Kishibe, Power, Angel Devil and more.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combatants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combatants. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share