MILITANCE Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

militance

noun

ˈmi-lə-tən(t)s

Definition of militance

as in aggression

an inclination to fight or quarrel the level of militance varied significantly among the activist groups

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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 militance The flamboyance, militance, and violence of the 1960s left might not have worked right away, after all. — Samuel Goldman, The Week, 6 Jan. 2022 The human relationship to fire on this specific piece of land was not always one of fear, anxiety, and militance. — Manjula Martin, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2021 As spring turned to summer and the pandemic seemed to be at its end, the Haredim reunited, bonded at first by impatience with public-health guidelines and then by a growing militance about the central government’s response. — New York Times, 25 Feb. 2021 That militance was frowned upon by Isaacson and others who favored a civilized political approach. — BostonGlobe.com, 26 Dec. 2019 Love shows up, even in power struggles where Queen’s militance clashes with Slim’s attempts at being level headed. — Jasmine Grant, Essence, 3 Dec. 2019 The Great Depression and America’s 1941 entry into WWII posed some complicated challenges to this legacy, as labor militance took a back seat at times of national emergency. — Kim Kelly, The New Republic, 27 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for militance

Noun

Even absent Chinese aggression, people in Taiwan increasingly identify as Taiwanese and do not seem inclined to repeat Hong Kong’s experience of acquiescing to Chinese rule.

— Eugene Gholz, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026
On the night of the last game at the old stadium, a 3-2 victory against Manchester United on May 10, 2016, nobody — not the police, the local community, not the club — expected the outpouring of emotion and aggression.

— Lee Clayton, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of aggression

Noun

She’s learned how to channel her competitiveness and aggressiveness in a much better way, a more productive way.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
If Yesavage can maintain that aggressiveness over the rest of the season, the Jays won’t have to worry about their funky righty.

— Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Definition of aggressiveness

Noun

On the obverse of this hostility is a genuine love of life, at least in some of its forms.

— Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Given the extent of the disruption to oil exports from the Middle East since the start of hostilities between Washington and Tehran, most of the hikes announced by OPEC+ since March have had a negligible impact on the physical crude market.

— Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of hostility

Noun

According to witnesses, shortly before the attack, speakers at the rally said ensuring security and eliminating militancy were the state’s responsibility.

— Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
According to witnesses, shortly before the attack, speakers at the rally said that ensuring security and eliminating militancy were the state’s responsibility.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of militancy

Noun

No wonder the new York head coach cut quite the forlorn figure on the touchline during the closing exchanges, even allowing for his post-match words of defiance for the boo boys.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Those acts of defiance, as well as frequent protests by retirees against worsening livelihoods, have helped shatter the narrative that Iranians are united behind their country’s war against the United States and Israel.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of defiance

Browse Nearby Words

milieus

militance

militancy

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“Militance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/militance. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of militance

noun

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