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
Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
Anthropocene framing conscripts the work into contemporary climate discourse, rendering its specific engagement with Kazakh nomadic destruction merely illustrative of broader ecological crisis.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
And the erotic aspects of the ass, too, could swell their ranks with new conscripts, new stories, new vibrations and vulnerabilities.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
In fact, in many cases, Russian forces appear to be using conscripts as live test subjects for experimental systems such as this new suit.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
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
Noun
Joining doesn’t come without complications for a country that effectively cannot order its conscripts to fight overseas.
—Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
Anthropocene framing conscripts the work into contemporary climate discourse, rendering its specific engagement with Kazakh nomadic destruction merely illustrative of broader ecological crisis.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
And the erotic aspects of the ass, too, could swell their ranks with new conscripts, new stories, new vibrations and vulnerabilities.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
In fact, in many cases, Russian forces appear to be using conscripts as live test subjects for experimental systems such as this new suit.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conscripts
Noun
-
On Thursday, as part of the pre-graduation presentations and events, 16 recruits from 11 countries became American citizens in a naturalization ceremony.—
Betsy Badell,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Jaelan Phillips, Devin Lloyd and the rest of the Carolina Panthers’ new recruits will begin work at Bank of America Stadium on April 20.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If Miami drafts correctly, something that was a dark stain of the last regime’s tenure, and hits on late free agent additions such as Rasul Douglas in 2025, the Dolphins might be better than previously thought.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
If the team drafts a receiver early, as expected, one of the names above likely won’t make the initial roster, or at least won’t be on the active roster.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These hats are expected to be the ones that new Rams draftees will put on when their names are called at the end of April.—
Tyler Erzberger,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Witherspoon, the Red Sox’s first-round draft pick last summer, is part of the club’s new Big Three of premium pitching prospects alongside fellow draftees Marcus Phillips and Anthony Eyanson.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conscripts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conscripts. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
