as in recruits
a person forced or required to enroll in military service
as the war continued, the body of enlisted soldiers was supplemented by an increasing number of conscripts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in drafts
to pick especially for required military service
was conscripted into the army shortly after turning 18
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of conscripts
Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
In recent years, the number of military personnel has hovered just above 180,000—compared with 300,000 people in 2001, more than a third of whom were conscripts.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
But October 7, which resulted in thousands of casualties and extended service for conscripts and reservists, changed perceptions.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025
The 1986 film also included accounts by former conscripts who had been forced to participate in the Russian occupation of Afghanistan, making clear the hopelessness and brutality of the war, starkly contrasting with the Kremlin’s version of a war of progress and purpose.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
But such streaks of humor and tenderness inevitably give way to the next atrocity, as Hothead conscripts Chicken into her mission to dispatch men.
—Jo Livingstone, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
The spectacle of the Long Walk is even sadder as a stand-in for capitalist expectations, its conscripts literally marching themselves to death as sacrifices to fading American exceptionalism.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
The Israeli military has a relatively small active-duty force, comprised mostly of conscripts.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
Rehabs throughout South Africa are full of white ex-conscripts.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
In recent years, the number of military personnel has hovered just above 180,000—compared with 300,000 people in 2001, more than a third of whom were conscripts.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
But October 7, which resulted in thousands of casualties and extended service for conscripts and reservists, changed perceptions.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025
The 1986 film also included accounts by former conscripts who had been forced to participate in the Russian occupation of Afghanistan, making clear the hopelessness and brutality of the war, starkly contrasting with the Kremlin’s version of a war of progress and purpose.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
But such streaks of humor and tenderness inevitably give way to the next atrocity, as Hothead conscripts Chicken into her mission to dispatch men.
—Jo Livingstone, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
The spectacle of the Long Walk is even sadder as a stand-in for capitalist expectations, its conscripts literally marching themselves to death as sacrifices to fading American exceptionalism.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
The Israeli military has a relatively small active-duty force, comprised mostly of conscripts.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conscripts
Noun
-
While most federal agencies face budget cuts and workforce reductions, ICE is expanding—offering new recruits Wall Street-style signing bonuses and student debt forgiveness.—
Binaifer Nowrojee,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
With the current contact period, during which coaches can visit recruits, ending Saturday and the following period not starting until mid-April, his team was busy booking charter flights and cramming seven days' worth of visits into four or five days.—
Doug Gollan,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Plano drafts broad deal Plano submitted a proposal to DART in November and outlined a potential agreement in more detail in January, according to documents obtained by The Dallas Morning News.—
Lilly Kersh,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The National Energy Administration (NEA), which drafts China’s national energy strategy, revealed on January 21, that the East Asian nation’s charging system is already capable of supporting more than 40 million news energy vehicles (EVs).—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If draftees declined to serve, they could be imprisoned.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Of the eight teams to play in that round, only two had more draftees from that same time frame (from the 2019 draft forward).—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conscripts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conscripts. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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