NAVAL Synonyms: 17 Similar and Opposite Words

naval

adjective

Definition of naval

as in GI

of or relating to a country's navy a naval base

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 naval Iran's Revolutionary Guard said Friday that a supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of oil struck a naval mine, exploded and caught fire while using an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported. — Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026 The development also signals a broader transformation in naval warfare, where unmanned systems are increasingly becoming an important component of military planning. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026 This embryonic naval force could be developed further to cover more ambitious contingencies in the Black Sea, from sea surveillance to the protection of territorial integrity, as the Finnish-Swedish naval task force does in the Baltic Sea. — Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026 Koizumi renews concern over China’s naval activity Koizumi raised concern Thursday about China’s increasing naval activity in southwestern Japan. — Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for naval

Recent Examples of Synonyms for naval

Adjective

Many inside the administration are skeptical about resuming military operations against Iran.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 29 Oct. 2026
More than 100 people were killed and 113 others were wounded on Monday in a Sudanese military drone strike on a busy market in Nyala, the capital of the South Darfur province, said Emergency Lawyers, a rights group tracking violence.

— YASSIR ABDALLA, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of military

Adjective

But none of that martial-arts mayhem is as compelling as the battle being waged behind the scenes as director Kitao Sakurai tries to insert his irreverent, ironic approach into a property resistant to that kind of impish goofing around.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The film stays true to the games’ core storyline about Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo), two martial artists who grew up together and try to protect each other from their demons as adults.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of martial

Adjective

Downstairs, Juniper Table offers a counter-service bar for espresso and juice, a Cal-Med breakfast and lunch menu during the day, and a full-service dinner menu at night.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Vegan Van will also serve alcoholic beverages at the counter-service restaurant.

— Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of service

Adjective

Never forget that Harkness was once a CIA operative and perhaps served a higher calling before creating his own mercenary network and taking jobs for monied sleazebags like Cantor.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Apple told CyberGuy that DarkSword originated from sophisticated mercenary spyware developed at considerable expense.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of mercenary

Browse Nearby Words

nautical

naval

navel

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Naval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naval. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of naval

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

satiate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes