as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
the level of militance varied significantly among the activist groups
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Example Sentences
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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
This is compounded by the economic impacts of the Trump trade pressures, the global backlash of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the declining fortunes of national technology champion Huawei, and other reactions to growing China militance and chauvinism.
—Therese Shaheen, National Review, 1 Sep. 2020
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
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
This is compounded by the economic impacts of the Trump trade pressures, the global backlash of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the declining fortunes of national technology champion Huawei, and other reactions to growing China militance and chauvinism.
—Therese Shaheen, National Review, 1 Sep. 2020
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
-
This is a deliberate choice of aggression when diplomacy and security were within reach.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Don’t yell at your cat or punish it, as this can lead to aggression and other behavioral problems.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Trotter said that aggressiveness is intentional, particularly as a blitzer.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2026
-
But Allar didn’t play well in six games as a senior, struggling with inconsistency and aggressiveness.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If hostilities end quickly, oil prices could drop back to a range of $60 to $70 per barrel , but any attack by Tehran on any neighboring facilities could mean Brent prices above $100 a barrel, according to Francisco Blanch, commodity strategist at Bank of America.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
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With hostilities in the region escalating, there are signs that tankers are holding off on traveling through the strait, experts said.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
To overthrow a government that uses brutality and coercion to cling to power and whose militancy had made their country an international pariah, impoverishing its citizens.—
Molly Hunter,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
-
He is widely viewed as a loyal enforcer of the regime, combining ideological militancy with control over security and logistics.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Now, Zelenskyy’s defiance of the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion has taken on an increasingly exasperated, if not desperate, tone.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
24 Feb. 2026
-
To someone unfamiliar with the condition, all could be mistaken for intoxication, defiance or guilt.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Militance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/militance. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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