paramilitary 1 of 2

Definition of paramilitarynext
as in military
of or relating to a group that is not an official army but that operates and is organized like an army Government forces have been attacked by heavily armed paramilitary groups in several villages. a paramilitary police force

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paramilitary

2 of 2

noun

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 paramilitary
Adjective
Just before the talks, Iran announced its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard started the drill early Monday morning in the waterways that are crucial international trade routes through which 20% of the world's oil passes. Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026 Now polling suggests the public, and even Republican leaders in Congress, have stopped buying the White House’s claims that federal agents’ paramilitary-style raids only target violent criminals. Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij paramilitary are the enforcers and protectors of the ruling regime in Tehran, not the regular national army, known in Iran as the Artesh. Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026 Sudan peace efforts resumed in Cairo on Wednesday with Egypt and the United Nations calling on warring parties to agree to a nationwide humanitarian truce, as the war between the army and its rival paramilitary nears the three-year mark. Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paramilitary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paramilitary
Adjective
  • The violence captured on cellphone videos and shared around the globe – buses burning, gas stations attacked, military helicopters flying overhead – wasn’t just happening in remote rural towns long plagued by drug violence.
    Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Tensions have since intensified, with Washington continuing to deploy military assets across the Middle East.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Then, in late 2016, the Colombian government signed a historic peace deal with the Marxist revolutionary guerilla group FARC.
    Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026
  • It was initially applied to criminal cartels such as Bolivia’s Santa Cruz before being extended to ideological guerrilla movements such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army (FARC) and Peru’s Sendero Luminoso.
    Evandro Cruz Silva, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • According to the firm, the effort reflects sustained demand from naval and air warfighters for aircraft capable of holding targets at risk from extended distances, particularly across the vast air and maritime spaces of the Western Pacific.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Just two weeks later, those words were to receive an exclamation point in the form of a live-fire naval artillery exercise announced by the Russians and scheduled to occur as close as about 30 miles from Kirkenes.
    Tom Yulsman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Armed soldiers descended on the parliament by helicopter and attempted to storm the chamber where lawmakers were gathered.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Local and out-of-state agencies are expected to assist with security, as are National Guard soldiers.
    PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Pakistan’s state-run media later reported that militant fatalities had risen to 80.
    Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
  • The president has given the regime less than two weeks to come back with proposals on curbing its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and support for proxy militant groups.
    ABC News, ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Some galaxies, known as irregulars, don't fit neatly into either mold.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The existence of the irregulars raises an important question: How small can a galaxy get?
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • David rises from shepherd to warrior, caught between loyalty and destiny, while the Age of Iron transforms warfare.
    Kennedy French, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026
  • The jacket features a funnel neck and dual-zip closure, while the skirt incorporates biodegradable corozo fasteners and paneling inspired by the armor traditions of Indian warriors.
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • As the trooper approached the car on the driver's side, the door opened slightly and shots were fired from inside, according to police.
    JT Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Continue reading … POLITICS BORDER BATTLE — Texas surges state troopers to border after cartel kingpin death sparks violence.
    , FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Paramilitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paramilitary. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

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