as in aggression
the opinions or actions of people who believe that a country should use military methods, forces, etc., to gain power and to achieve its goals
The administration has been criticized for the militarism of its foreign policy.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 militarism
To get there, Puerto Ricans must demand transparency about military activities, insist on environmental justice, and hold accountable both local officials who enable this militarism and federal agencies that perpetuate it.
—
Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 10 Nov. 2025
Kim explores social and historical themes including modernization, militarism, and migration through a practice encompassing sound, video, and installation art.
—News Desk, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2025
Bigelow has often been accused of being apolitical—or, because of her fascination with the codes, rites, and aesthetics of men at war, of advancing a gung-ho fetishization of American militarism.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
People implemented racist clauses in housing deeds and rejected or offered outrageously predatory lending terms to nonwhites, permitting exceptions occasionally to Asians only by assuming their proximity to whiteness or to American militarism.
—Arabelle Sicardi, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for militarism
Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 10 Nov. 2025
Kim explores social and historical themes including modernization, militarism, and migration through a practice encompassing sound, video, and installation art.
—News Desk, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2025
Bigelow has often been accused of being apolitical—or, because of her fascination with the codes, rites, and aesthetics of men at war, of advancing a gung-ho fetishization of American militarism.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
People implemented racist clauses in housing deeds and rejected or offered outrageously predatory lending terms to nonwhites, permitting exceptions occasionally to Asians only by assuming their proximity to whiteness or to American militarism.
—Arabelle Sicardi, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for militarism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for militarism
Noun
-
These differences were stronger in young people with more behavior problems that are shown outwardly, such as aggression, frequent anger, irritability, and refusing to follow rules.—
Crista Marchesseault,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Taipei, Taiwan — In the face of growing Chinese military aggression, Taiwan has increased defense spending, extended mandatory conscription and revamped its combat exercises, signaling its determination to fight off a potential invasion.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Though local histories differ, fossil capitalism and the imperialism that sustains it have produced a regional trauma carried across borders in memory, bodies and ecosystems.—
Mehrnoush Soroush,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The legacy of Japanese imperialism has been profound and enduring.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Colorado’s aggressiveness with trading away draft picks and prospects to help the NHL club’s pursuit of a Stanley Cup has often left the organization’s pipeline thin, but also provides opportunities for undrafted players like Logan O’Connor and Sam Malinski to earn chances and thrive.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Frost have played well with aggressiveness and their speed on the ice all season.—
Theodore Tollefson,
Twin Cities,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Tapping into national pride — dare say jingoism — might have done the trick.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The positive feelings people have toward their community translate directly into civic engagement, without the risk of increasing negative feelings such as jingoism or xenophobia.—
Sean Richey,
The Conversation,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
According to the Indivisible site, what began in 2025 as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading from small towns to city centers and across every community determined to defend democracy.—
Gina Grillo,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
And an underdog who stayed in the contest in defiance of steep odds and, seemingly, common sense.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Militarism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/militarism. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
