as in aggression
the opinions or actions of people who believe that a country should use military methods, forces, etc., to gain power and to achieve its goals
The administration has been criticized for the militarism of its foreign policy.
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Recent Examples of militarism
Bigelow has often been accused of being apolitical—or, because of her fascination with the codes, rites, and aesthetics of men at war, of advancing a gung-ho fetishization of American militarism.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
People implemented racist clauses in housing deeds and rejected or offered outrageously predatory lending terms to nonwhites, permitting exceptions occasionally to Asians only by assuming their proximity to whiteness or to American militarism.
—Arabelle Sicardi, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
This truth, in fact, can be extended to a significant number of other nations where science to varying degrees has been a victim of politicization, isolation, and retreat—Japan during the period of ultra-militarism, Spain under Franco, Iran in the hands of its theocratic regime.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
But militarism and conquest of the landscape were major themes of the growing right-wing nationalism in Austria, in which Mörk became immersed.
—Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for militarism
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
People implemented racist clauses in housing deeds and rejected or offered outrageously predatory lending terms to nonwhites, permitting exceptions occasionally to Asians only by assuming their proximity to whiteness or to American militarism.
—Arabelle Sicardi, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
This truth, in fact, can be extended to a significant number of other nations where science to varying degrees has been a victim of politicization, isolation, and retreat—Japan during the period of ultra-militarism, Spain under Franco, Iran in the hands of its theocratic regime.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
But militarism and conquest of the landscape were major themes of the growing right-wing nationalism in Austria, in which Mörk became immersed.
—Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for militarism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for militarism
Noun
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His reckless decision to escalate the aggression and number of immigration agents is a causal factor, regardless of the outcome of an investigation into this tragic death.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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When the music dissolves into an ethereal, ambient soundscape and a psychedelic, spiritual journey, that’s where finding the right amount of energy, aggression, violence, and grief, to support the story and to explain things that the dialog couldn’t, was the most challenging part.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Some Democratic lawmakers have called it a form of 21st century imperialism.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
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Regardless, the Islamic Republic’s response has been to frame criticism as betrayal, suggesting that those who question support for Gaza or Lebanon are complicit with imperialism – a narrative enforced through a mix of rhetoric and coercion.—
Kamran Talattof,
The Conversation,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And the first half was a virtuoso blend of aggressiveness and controlling tempo from Payton, as Nix had a couple of deep shots to Marvin Mims and Lil'Jordan Humphrey, but also controlled the game with his legs.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
18 Jan. 2026
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The 2026 version of the San Diego Mojo is built on a blend of toughness and aggressiveness that shines through with a relentless defense that extends rallies and attempts to frustrate the offense on the other side of the net.—
Tim Meehan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Al-Akkad reserves his harshest criticism not for the obvious warmongers of American empire, explicit in their jingoism and nationalist fervor, but for the decorous liberal centrists, complacent in their institutional comfort, their birthright virtue too easily claimed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Dec. 2025
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That it’s never made clear who fired the missile — everyone’s a possible enemy, though it’s strongly suggested that the North Koreans are ultimately responsible — invites charges of jingoism or at least of a soft embrace of American exceptionalism.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That said, judicial defiance has been more pronounced in the lower courts.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2026
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Trump’s efforts to take over Greenland have been met with defiance from Nielsen, who said Monday Greenland will not be pressured.—
Mike Stunson,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Militarism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/militarism. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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