as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
the level of militance varied significantly among the activist groups
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of militance
This is compounded by the economic impacts of the Trump trade pressures, the global backlash of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the declining fortunes of national technology champion Huawei, and other reactions to growing China militance and chauvinism.
—
Therese Shaheen, National Review, 1 Sep. 2020
The flamboyance, militance, and violence of the 1960s left might not have worked right away, after all.
—Samuel Goldman, The Week, 6 Jan. 2022
The human relationship to fire on this specific piece of land was not always one of fear, anxiety, and militance.
—Manjula Martin, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2021
As spring turned to summer and the pandemic seemed to be at its end, the Haredim reunited, bonded at first by impatience with public-health guidelines and then by a growing militance about the central government’s response.
—New York Times, 25 Feb. 2021
Nearly every artist had a go at exalting Zapata for his deep rootedness in native soil as well as for his dashing militance.
—Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2020
That militance was frowned upon by Isaacson and others who favored a civilized political approach.
—BostonGlobe.com, 26 Dec. 2019
Love shows up, even in power struggles where Queen’s militance clashes with Slim’s attempts at being level headed.
—Jasmine Grant, Essence, 3 Dec. 2019
The Great Depression and America’s 1941 entry into WWII posed some complicated challenges to this legacy, as labor militance took a back seat at times of national emergency.
—Kim Kelly, The New Republic, 27 Sep. 2019
Therese Shaheen, National Review, 1 Sep. 2020
The flamboyance, militance, and violence of the 1960s left might not have worked right away, after all.
—Samuel Goldman, The Week, 6 Jan. 2022
The human relationship to fire on this specific piece of land was not always one of fear, anxiety, and militance.
—Manjula Martin, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2021
As spring turned to summer and the pandemic seemed to be at its end, the Haredim reunited, bonded at first by impatience with public-health guidelines and then by a growing militance about the central government’s response.
—New York Times, 25 Feb. 2021
Nearly every artist had a go at exalting Zapata for his deep rootedness in native soil as well as for his dashing militance.
—Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2020
That militance was frowned upon by Isaacson and others who favored a civilized political approach.
—BostonGlobe.com, 26 Dec. 2019
Love shows up, even in power struggles where Queen’s militance clashes with Slim’s attempts at being level headed.
—Jasmine Grant, Essence, 3 Dec. 2019
The Great Depression and America’s 1941 entry into WWII posed some complicated challenges to this legacy, as labor militance took a back seat at times of national emergency.
—Kim Kelly, The New Republic, 27 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for militance
Noun
-
Correa’s stunning return to Houston is another accentuation of owner Jim Crane’s aggression at the trade deadline and a jolt for a clubhouse that needed it.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
-
The work is a reflection on the extent of unbelievable acts of aggression that exist in times of confrontation, such as the compulsion to kill to retain control.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
Without an end to hostilities, no humanitarian corridor can function safely, Palestinian civilians cannot be reached at scale and the hostages will not return home.—
David Miliband,
Time,
29 July 2025
-
The largest synagogue in Judaism’s Reconstructionist movement is moving to cut ties with its denominational body over what its leaders describe as a failure to confront hostility to Israel among affiliated rabbis and rabbinical students.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
28 July 2025
Noun
-
Spiritual militancy reflects an aggressive, us-vs.-them mindset that blurs the line between faith and authoritarianism, promoting dominion over society in the name of spiritual warfare.—
Art Jipson,
The Conversation,
8 July 2025
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While direct conflicts between the two sides have not taken place since 1999, India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of funding a militancy in Kashmir, along with other major terror attacks on Indian soil including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
For many women, something as simple as buying a bikini becomes an act of defiance.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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When his latest work is once again denied permission by the Ministry of Culture, the censorship pushes him to the edge of defiance.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Militance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/militance. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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