as in military
of or relating to a group that is not an official army but that operates and is organized like an army
Government forces have been attacked by heavily armed paramilitary groups in several villages. a paramilitary police force
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in guerilla
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paramilitary
Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2025
The state also encourages young people to enroll in its secondary vocational education system, which provides training for specialties that are in demand in the paramilitary economy.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 23 Jan. 2025
Starting in late 1948, government and right-wing paramilitary forces violently suppressed a left-wing insurgency on Jeju Island.
—Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025
The multinational banana producer Chiquita Brands was found liable in 2024 for killings by a Colombian right-wing paramilitary group that was designated as a terrorist organization.
—Maria Abi-Habib, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paramilitary
Adjective
The group quickly gains a following — but also invites scrutiny from local paramilitary groups and law enforcement.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2025
The state also encourages young people to enroll in its secondary vocational education system, which provides training for specialties that are in demand in the paramilitary economy.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 23 Jan. 2025
Starting in late 1948, government and right-wing paramilitary forces violently suppressed a left-wing insurgency on Jeju Island.
—Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025
The multinational banana producer Chiquita Brands was found liable in 2024 for killings by a Colombian right-wing paramilitary group that was designated as a terrorist organization.
—Maria Abi-Habib, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paramilitary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paramilitary
Adjective
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insists President Trump ’s abrupt firing of the nation’s senior military officer amid a wave of dismissals at the Pentagon wasn’t unusual, brushing aside outcry that the new administration is openly seeking to inject politics into the military.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2025
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Just a day earlier, the Trump staff shakeup hit the Pentagon with the ouster of the nation's highest-ranking military officer, General C.Q. Brown, and other senior leaders at the Navy, Army and Air Force.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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What To Know In a press release on Sunday, the Netherlands' defense ministry announced that its Royal Navy had escorted a fleet of six Russian ships—comprising three naval vessels and three civilian ships—navigating through the Mediterranean Sea en route to a Russian port.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
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The carrier had arrived at a naval base in Crete earlier in the week, a rare break for the strike group that has been in constant operations, though the pace had ebbed as Israel's ceasefire with Hamas took effect in mid-January.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Both countries are currently experiencing their own violent upheaval after Petro, a former guerrilla, suspended negotiations with rebels last week and their attacks left at least 80 dead and 18,000 displaced in Colombia’s Catatumbo region.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2025
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Horrified by this new reality, a man escapes one of the residences and joins a guerrilla cell led by fellow dissidents over 75.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Hamas, which has fought Israeli troops for more than a year in its Gaza stronghold since attacking communities in southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, said sending tanks showed the threats faced by Israeli troops from militant fighters in the camps.—
Raneen Sawafta and James Mackenzie,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
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Hezbollah has been left badly depleted by Israeli attacks and the mass event was intended as a show of strength for the militant and political group.—
CNN Staff,
CNN,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
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So, there is a sense that London is dangerous and that all the soldiers have just returned and brought their guns with them.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2025
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Carleton argues that Russell and Tolstoy’s focus on the plight of the individual soldier amid the horror and senselessness of war shaped the public perception of later quagmires, such as World War I and the Vietnam War.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In a word, even before yesterday, Donbas was well on its way to becoming Ukraine’s Bosnia -- with Putin playing the part of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, Russia playing the part of Serbia, and Putin’s Donbas supporters playing the part of Bosnian Serb irregulars.—
Alexander J. Motyl,
Foreign Affairs,
17 July 2014
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But when strong-arm tactics by security irregulars failed to suppress the massive demonstrations in Tahrir Square, the senior officer corps, who regarded themselves foremost as guardians of the first Egyptian revolution, sent Mubarak into retirement.—
Robert H. Pelletreau,
Foreign Affairs,
24 Feb. 2011
Noun
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General Caine’s nickname embodied the kind of hell-raiser warrior straight out of central casting that Mr. Trump was looking for in his top general, officials said.—
Eric Schmitt,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
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The sword, broken in two, might have been used by Vandal warriors and buried in a funeral ritual.—
Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization,
Miami Herald,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paramilitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paramilitary. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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