Synonyms of military

military 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmi-lə-ˌter-ē 

1

as in martial

of or relating to the armed services

the colonel testified that revealing any more information at the public hearing would have required giving away military secrets

Synonyms & Similar Words

• martial
• naval
• service
• paramilitary
• mercenary
• militant
• militaristic
• warlike
• soldierly
• militarist
• enlisted
• regular
• gladiatorial
• GI

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• civilian
• civil
• nonmilitary

2

as in soldierly

of, relating to, or suitable for war or a warrior

after returning from the war, the college president very unsuccessfully tried to impose military discipline on the students

Synonyms & Similar Words

• martial
• soldierly
• guerrilla
• warlike
• militaristic
• aggressive
• militant
• militarist
• combative
• bellicose
• belligerent
• warring
• mercenary
• pugnacious
• antagonistic
• contentious
• quarrelsome
• scrappy
• gladiatorial
• truculent
• argumentative
• fierce
• hot-tempered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• civilian
• civil
• nonmilitary
• nonviolent
• unsoldierly
• peaceful
• pacific
• peaceable
• conciliatory
• benevolent
• friendly
• amiable
• cordial
• gracious
• genial
• amicable
• easygoing
• good-natured
• affable
• complaisant
• ingratiating
• obliging

military

2 of 2

noun

as in troops

the combined army, air force, and navy of a nation

some would insist that the military's budget is still inadequate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• troops
• soldiers
• service
• armed forces
• colors
• force
• servicemen
• militia
• soldiery
• defense
• rank and file
• servicewomen
• GIs
• reserves
• armor
• men-at-arms
• gendarmerie

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• civilians
• noncombatants

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of military

Adjective

Cooper also went to Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to meet with civilian and military leaders, according to the Central Command statement. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

China carried out military drills this month near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. — Ben Finley, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026

Noun

The semiannual military exercise, called Combined Resolve, gave the US military a firsthand taste of how modern drone warfare has evolved on the battlefields of Ukraine. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026

For Russia's military, Crimea is a vital warm-water naval port to the south. — Greg Myre, NPR, 13 Aug. 2026