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
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 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
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
-
The academy, located near College Parkway and State Avenue, is primarily tasked with training new recruits but also provides ongoing professional development and training.—
Sofi Zeman
January 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Advertisement The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has hired thousands of new recruits to meet that ambitious goal, lowering its hiring standards in the process and becoming more aggressive in its tactics.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tommy drafts your characters to join him in combating whatever comes next.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Nov. 2025
-
Elected leaders give city management direction and OK ordinances, while city staff executes those decisions and drafts policies or proposals for the council to consider.—
Shawn Raymundo,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Yes, rookie draftees got playing opportunities but none was a standout, and the top two picks were closer to disappointments than successes.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Biggers and Ewers were the only draftees who didn’t begin the season with a starting spot, or a prominent role, and when the Dolphins began the season struggling to defend the run because Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips struggled massively, Biggers’ frustration grew.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
13 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Conscripts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conscripts. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
