as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
the level of militance varied significantly among the activist groups
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 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
-
Americans lacked a sense of urgency about Nazi aggression.—
Tamar Jacoby,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Related article Ukraine’s European allies say Russian aggression is pushing peace out of reach, as US envoy meets Putin The new administration has opened multiple channels to Moscow, following three years of diplomatic isolation.—
Andrew Carey and Victoria Butenko,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Stolarz’s inclination to shout instructions at teammates on the ice, often with serious levels of hostility in the name of competition, comes to him naturally.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Datta writes that Indians had faced violent treatment at the hands of Japanese forces, even if the Chinese community bore the brunt of the Japanese hostility.—
H.M.A. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
By the time Moynihan’s second paper came out, many white liberals, distracted by the war in Vietnam and disenchanted by Black militancy, had given up on the crusade for civil rights.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
-
The indirect impact on elections is a common side effect of labor militancy and mass protest.—
Kevin A. Young,
The Conversation,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Man Utd fans explain their song of defiance United fans have turned to Bonnie Tyler in a season of heartache Mikel Arteta, Arsenal Mikel Arteta has been reluctant to discuss his own musical tastes publicly.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Coffee with a side of defiance Some Mexican cafés are changing the name of the Americano.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Militance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/militance. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share