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

• aggressive
• agonistic
• argumentative
• assaultive
• bellicose
• belligerent
• brawly
• chippy
• combative
• confrontational
• contentious
• discordant
• disputatious
• feisty
• gladiatorial
• pugnacious
• quarrelsome
• scrappy
• truculent
• warlike

Choose the Right Synonym for militant

aggressive, militant, assertive, self-assertive mean obtrusively energetic especially in pursuing particular goals.

aggressive implies a disposition to dominate often in disregard of others' rights or in determined and energetic pursuit of one's ends.

aggressive in his business dealings

militant also implies a fighting disposition but suggests not self-seeking but devotion to a cause, movement, or principle.

militant protesters rallied against the new law

assertive suggests bold self-confidence in expression of opinion.

the more assertive speakers dominated the forum

self-assertive connotes forwardness or brash self-confidence.

a self-assertive young upstart

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 ended its ceasefire with the Hamas militant group and renewed its air and ground war last month. —Arkansas Online, 1 Apr. 2025

From Myanmar comes the story of a student turned insurgent who joined a militant guerilla group set on overthrowing the country’s military junta. —The Dial, 1 Apr. 2025

The Israel-Hezbollah conflict exploded into all-out war in September when Israel carried out waves of airstrikes and killed most of the militant group’s senior leaders. —Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025

The truce came after 14 months of clashes following the attack launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel and an intensification of IDF ground and air operations in Lebanon last year. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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