militant
adjective
mil·i·tant
ˈmi-lə-tənt 
1
: engaged in warfare or combat : fighting
2
: aggressively active (as in a cause) : combative
militant conservationists
a militant attitude
militant
noun
militantly
adverb
militantness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of militant in a Sentence
an angry and militant speech
political radicals with a militant unwillingness to compromise on any issue
Recent Examples on the Web
Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza after the militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,200 people, including 36 children, and kidnapping more than 250 others.
—
Khader Al Za'anoun, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
After months of planning, federal officials say, 18-year-old Alexander Scott Mercurio was just a few days away from executing an attack on American soil in the name of the Islamic State militant group.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
If Ethiopian forces withdraw, or are expelled, from those AU deployments, the Somalian militant group al Shabab will be the beneficiary and could threaten Mogadishu.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
Between December and January, the militant group Islamic Jihad released two videos of Katzir begging viewers for help.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
Critics have said that the Israeli military has shown a disregard for Palestinian civilians in its campaign to root out Hamas, the militant group whose attack on Oct. 7 killed 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.
—Adam Rasgon, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
In December, the militant group attacked a police station in the town of Rask, killing 11 security personnel.
—Reuters, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
When fighters from Hamas — the militant group that controls Gaza — breached the border on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 Israelis and taking hundreds of hostages, Andrés quickly moved to organize support for Gazan civilians sure to be caught up in the Israeli military response.
—Ashraf Khalil, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024
Israel has been pummeling Gaza in retaliation for the militant group's surprise Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,200 people and led to the kidnapping of hundreds.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Khader Al Za'anoun, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
After months of planning, federal officials say, 18-year-old Alexander Scott Mercurio was just a few days away from executing an attack on American soil in the name of the Islamic State militant group.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
If Ethiopian forces withdraw, or are expelled, from those AU deployments, the Somalian militant group al Shabab will be the beneficiary and could threaten Mogadishu.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
Between December and January, the militant group Islamic Jihad released two videos of Katzir begging viewers for help.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
Critics have said that the Israeli military has shown a disregard for Palestinian civilians in its campaign to root out Hamas, the militant group whose attack on Oct. 7 killed 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.
—Adam Rasgon, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
In December, the militant group attacked a police station in the town of Rask, killing 11 security personnel.
—Reuters, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
When fighters from Hamas — the militant group that controls Gaza — breached the border on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 Israelis and taking hundreds of hostages, Andrés quickly moved to organize support for Gazan civilians sure to be caught up in the Israeli military response.
—Ashraf Khalil, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024
Israel has been pummeling Gaza in retaliation for the militant group's surprise Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,200 people and led to the kidnapping of hundreds.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'militant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of militant was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near militant
Cite this Entry
“Militant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/militant. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
militant
adjective
mil·i·tant
ˈmil-ə-tənt
1
: being at war
2
: aggressively active especially in a cause
militant protesters
militant
noun
militantly
adverb
militantness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on militant
Nglish: Translation of militant for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of militant for Arabic Speakers
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