as in partisans
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause
militants within the movement insisted that there could be no compromise on the issue
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of militants
In two separate encounters on Monday, the Israeli air force struck and killed Hezbollah militants that the military said approached its troops in a threatening way.
—
Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2026
In two separate encounters on Monday, the Israeli air force struck and killed Hezbollah militants that the military said approached its troops in a threatening way.
—Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Pakistan’s polio eradication program has been running anti-polio campaigns for years, though health workers and the police assigned to protect them are often targeted by militants who falsely claim the vaccination campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
The son of the English-language spokeswoman for the Iranian militants involved in the 1979 storming of the US Embassy in Tehran, Iran, is set to face deportation from the US, along with his wife and son, the State Department announced today.
—Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
Israel says its offensive against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon is not part of the deal.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
Israeli forces have conducted airstrikes that have killed Hezbollah militants.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2026
Shoshani said Israel has killed at least 1,000 Hezbollah militants since the start of the operation.
—Max Burman, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
The Assad family, members of the sect, ruled Syria for over half a century until Bashar was ousted in December by Sunni Islamist militants who sought to reshape the country’s political and sectarian order.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2026
In two separate encounters on Monday, the Israeli air force struck and killed Hezbollah militants that the military said approached its troops in a threatening way.
—Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Pakistan’s polio eradication program has been running anti-polio campaigns for years, though health workers and the police assigned to protect them are often targeted by militants who falsely claim the vaccination campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
The son of the English-language spokeswoman for the Iranian militants involved in the 1979 storming of the US Embassy in Tehran, Iran, is set to face deportation from the US, along with his wife and son, the State Department announced today.
—Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
Israel says its offensive against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon is not part of the deal.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
Israeli forces have conducted airstrikes that have killed Hezbollah militants.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2026
Shoshani said Israel has killed at least 1,000 Hezbollah militants since the start of the operation.
—Max Burman, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
The Assad family, members of the sect, ruled Syria for over half a century until Bashar was ousted in December by Sunni Islamist militants who sought to reshape the country’s political and sectarian order.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for militants
Noun
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There’s a reason why strident partisans like Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton and progressives Tom Steyer and Katie Porter have consistently placed high in the polls, while moderates like Becerra, his frenemy Antonio Villaraigosa and San Jose mayor Matt Mahan have lagged.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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The map of states that offer the highest-quality public preschool programs would surprise some partisans.—
Moriah Balingit,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Now, Elliott, the Hamden Democrat, has been calling likely delegates and trudging around the state to meet with party activists, telling them Connecticut’s government does not do enough.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
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The group heard about it from other activists in Washington state.—
Dennis Valera,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Anti-porn crusaders of all ilks also hijacked the news of Radvinsky’s passing for their various pro-censorship agendas.—
Gustavo Turner,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
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But the 76-year-old congressman from New York is one of Washington’s few prominent crusaders against the sports-betting industry.—
McKay Coppins,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Militants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/militants. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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