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militant

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective militant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of militant are aggressive, assertive, and self-assertive. While all these words mean "obtrusively energetic especially in pursuing particular goals," militant also implies a fighting disposition but suggests not self-seeking but devotion to a cause, movement, or principle.

militant protesters rallied against the new law

When would aggressive be a good substitute for militant?

The synonyms aggressive and militant are sometimes interchangeable, but aggressive implies a disposition to dominate often in disregard of others' rights or in determined and energetic pursuit of one's ends.

aggressive in his business dealings

In what contexts can assertive take the place of militant?

In some situations, the words assertive and militant are roughly equivalent. However, assertive suggests bold self-confidence in expression of opinion.

the more assertive speakers dominated the forum

When is it sensible to use self-assertive instead of militant?

The words self-assertive and militant can be used in similar contexts, but self-assertive connotes forwardness or brash self-confidence.

a self-assertive young upstart

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 militant
Adjective
Israel had previously accused Hamas of a similar attack in Rafah that saw two soldiers killed earlier this month, with the militant group also denying involvement at the time. Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025 Israel says the militant group can access the remains of most of the hostages. Maayan Lubell, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
Hamas had agreed per the ceasefire to hand over the remains of 28 dead hostages in exchange for the bodies of 360 Palestinian militants who were killed in the Gaza war. Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025 In first half of that decade, Palestinian militants from Gaza and Sinai had killed 403 Israelis, including both civilians and soldiers. Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for militant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for militant
Adjective
  • The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of the aggressive tactics used by Border Patrol and ICE, including against US citizens.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The Chiefs were again aggressive on fourth down — and successful at stopping them, too.
    Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Federal officials decided to fund an ambitious megaproject to sequence all human genes.
    Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
  • China’s ambitious plan to build the Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC), a multibillion-dollar project aimed at creating the world’s largest particle collider, is likely to be officially stalled after it was not included in the country’s next five-year plan.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Beloved by liberal partisans and loathed by their counterparts, Pelosi was one of the last engineers of an old-school political machine that could count votes better than anyone in a generation.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Critics will predictably argue that those two positions are inherently linked; on the opposite side of the political spectrum, oil and gas partisans could point to Gates’ essay as proof that climate hysteria was misguided all along and that fossil use should continue unimpeded.
    Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • There are guns, horses, ghosts, a primal struggle for survival in hostile terrain, family feuds and a steadily intensifying sense of mortal threat, as Old Porch’s ambition and psychopathy escalate the drama.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Fire department suffering low morale When Washington was fired, City Manager Sheryl Long blamed him for creating a hostile work environment for female firefighters and for failing to improve the department's workplace culture.
    Aaron Valdez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Elizabeth’s determination not to settle the succession gave rise to fierce rivalry between the claimants to the English throne, among them Mary, Queen of Scots and her son James VI; James’s cousin Arbella Stuart; Lady Katherine Grey and her descendants; and Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Yet plans to expand America’s lab-monkey stockpile have been met with fierce opposition.
    Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The civil rights activist pointed out that Davis has been divorced several times, noting that this is counter to some Americans' religious beliefs as well.
    Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Anti-Trump activists are deploying an array of tactics to fight back against the policies of the President and his Administration — protests, marches, events, advocacy campaigns, social media videos.
    Time, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Is Lee Raybon a righteous crusader for truth and justice or a dangerously delusional white savior?
    Judy Berman, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Austin’s disappearance transformed his mother, Debra, into a geopolitical crusader overnight.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Militant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/militant. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

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