Thesaurus results for STANDING ARMY

standing army

noun

Definition of standing army

as in national guard

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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 standing army How a country founded in fear of a standing army came to think of its military as a bulwark of American democracy is the subject of my work. — Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026 There was no standing army, so Congress had to raise and fund one. — Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026 Environmental concerns have held a central place in Costa Rica’s identity for years, much like its lack of a standing army, and the country has set ambitious sustainability goals. — Djenane Villanueva, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026 With Stalin’s large standing army smothering half of Europe, and his fledgling nuclear arsenal extending Moscow’s ambitions overseas, America had to scramble. — Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for standing army

Recent Examples of Synonyms for standing army

Noun

There are two national guard members waiting in line at the Starbucks on the ground floor.

— Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 4 July 2026
At least two military members also attend veteran funeral services, usually sent from either active duty, the national guard or the reserve, said Chadd Boland, a National Guard staff sergeant.

— Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026

Definition of national guard

Noun

The book instead focuses on Penelope’s diplomatic genius, along with her loyal women who form a network of spies for her along with a secret militia that quietly runs the island from the shadows for two decades while their men are away at war.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
The transnational jihadist militia made Raqqa, in northeastern Syria, its capital amid the country's 2011-2024 civil war and still has supporters in the desert hinterlands.

— Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2026

Definition of militia

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standing armies

standing army

standing by

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“Standing army.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standing%20army. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of standing army

noun

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