MILITARISM Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

militarism

noun

Definition of militarism

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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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 militarism Memories of Imperial Japan’s human rights abuses were still fresh in people’s minds – fueling fears that any such law or intelligence reform could backslide once again to surveillance, militarism and repression. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 July 2026 From the other side of the ideological spectrum, anti-Nazis interpreted the tolerant and pacifist spirit of the film as a rebuke to Nazi eugenics and militarism. — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026 Germany, Austria, and other countries turn to protectionism, xenophobia, militarism. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 That is using militarism and war as an excuse for people to make profit. — June 1, NPR, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for militarism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for militarism

Noun

On the contrary, airpower remains the most potent piece of the United States’ conventional forces, as well as its main source of both deterrent capacity and warfighting advantage against conventional aggression by hostile states.

— Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026
Publicly sharing Hasan’s death is unlikely to deter future acts of monstrous aggression, as Hegseth claims.

— Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of aggression

Noun

Sierra also contextualizes Kenmure Street within the long shadow of slavery, industry, imperialism and grassroots opposition.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
For many years, Chavismo relied on the condemnation of imperialism to construct its political identity, and consistently invoked it on this stage.

— Alfredo Meza, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of imperialism

Noun

Taking the Long Way, more than anger or defiance, zeroes in on the sting of being ousted from your own home.

— Shaad D’Souza, Pitchfork, 11 Oct. 2026
The other half is captured in DuVernay’s fascinating portrait of the Lost Cause — the culture of defiance and regret and literal whitewashing that came to represent the Southern consciousness of what life had been before the Civil War.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of defiance

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militants

militarism

militarist

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“Militarism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/militarism. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of militarism

noun

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