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
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 and the Lebanese militant group exchanged fire for over a year before reaching a ceasefire in November 2024.
—
Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Iran has been plagued for years by staggering hyperinflation, fueled by Western sanctions imposed over the hardline clerical government's nuclear program and backing for militant groups across the region.
—CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
Some experts argue that IS is powerful today partly as a brand, inspiring both militant groups and individuals in attacks that the group itself may have no real role in.
—Gary D. Robertson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
On Yom Kippur, a militant Islamist called Jihad Al-Shamie (in retrospect, the first name was a clue) killed one person and injured others in a stabbing attack on a synagogue in Manchester.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for militant
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Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Iran has been plagued for years by staggering hyperinflation, fueled by Western sanctions imposed over the hardline clerical government's nuclear program and backing for militant groups across the region.
—CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
Some experts argue that IS is powerful today partly as a brand, inspiring both militant groups and individuals in attacks that the group itself may have no real role in.
—Gary D. Robertson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
On Yom Kippur, a militant Islamist called Jihad Al-Shamie (in retrospect, the first name was a clue) killed one person and injured others in a stabbing attack on a synagogue in Manchester.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for militant
Cite this Entry
“Militant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/militant. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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