as in soldiers
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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Recent Examples of combatants
Ejections ensued for Freeland and Giants third baseman and shortstop Matt Chapman and Willy Adames, the most physical combatants in the skirmish.
—
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
In southern Kherson province, five more non-combatants lost their lives, and 47 others were wounded.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In a context where representations of the war in the DRC are rare, the film offers a new perspective on this conflict, shedding light on the resilience of former combatants who are now rebuilding their lives in Goma, a city still scarred and shaken by war.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2025
Twenty years ago, the Paramount Network cable channel predecessor Spike TV premiered The Ultimate Fighter, a reality show following aspiring UFC combatants.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Since September 2022, the war in Ukraine has largely been marked by slow, attritional warfare between entrenched combatants, with advances marked by meters rather than miles.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2025
During the Civil War, Gettysburg and other engagements resulted in a higher percentage of casualties among combatants.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
The number does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
In southern Kherson province, five more non-combatants lost their lives, and 47 others were wounded.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In a context where representations of the war in the DRC are rare, the film offers a new perspective on this conflict, shedding light on the resilience of former combatants who are now rebuilding their lives in Goma, a city still scarred and shaken by war.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2025
Twenty years ago, the Paramount Network cable channel predecessor Spike TV premiered The Ultimate Fighter, a reality show following aspiring UFC combatants.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Since September 2022, the war in Ukraine has largely been marked by slow, attritional warfare between entrenched combatants, with advances marked by meters rather than miles.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2025
During the Civil War, Gettysburg and other engagements resulted in a higher percentage of casualties among combatants.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
The number does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combatants
Noun
-
About 600 North Korean soldiers have died fighting for Russia in the Kursk region, according to South Korea's intelligence agency, which believes Pyongyang is planning another deployment.—
Joe Cash,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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While this might not sound like a large number of soldiers for an entire continent, the number itself is misleading.—
Daniel R. DePetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As state troopers blocked roads leading to the plant and set up a security perimeter, nearly 500 federal, state and local officers poured into the sprawling battery production facility, still under construction.—
Caroll Alvarado,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
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Though Smith was charged with four counts of assault for scaring and endangering the villagers, troopers did not say he was involved in his mother’s death.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Aries are the fearless warriors who have no issue taking on battles with the hopes of winning and helping others.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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Like their namesake warriors, the Valkyries are still battling.—
Devin Robertson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The 17-year-old joins a steady stream of fighters on mats spattered with sweat, blood and occasional tears to spar under the watchful eye of Mansouri, a former professional MMA fighter who founded the space in 2020.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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Unlike earlier twin-seat fighters used primarily for training or weapons operations, the second seat in the J-20S is designed to expand the jet’s battlefield role dramatically.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combatants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combatants. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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