Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

militant

[mil-i-tuhnt]

Example Sentences Origin

adjective

vigorously active and aggressive, especially in support of a cause: militant reformers.

engaged in warfare; fighting.

noun

a militant person.

a person engaged in warfare or combat.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Militant is always a great word to know.

So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:

a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.

a fool or simpleton; ninny.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin mīlitant- (stem of mīlitāns), present participle of mīlitāre to serve as a soldier. See militate, -ant

Related forms

mil·i·tan·cy, mil·i·tant·ness, noun

mil·i·tant·ly, adverb

hy·per·mil·i·tant, adjective

hy·per·mil·i·tant·ly, adverb

non·mil·i·tan·cy, noun

EXPAND

non·mil·i·tant, adjective, noun

non·mil·i·tant·ly, adverb

su·per·mil·i·tant, adjective

ul·tra·mil·i·tant, adjective

un·mil·i·tant, adjective

un·mil·i·tant·ly, adverb

COLLAPSE

Synonyms
1. belligerent, combative, contentious. See fanatic.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To militant

Example Sentences

We reject the bland relativism of the militant secularists.

Over the past two decades, this militant has been almost constantly in arms.

The ascent to power of a new elite of militant indigenous people has been a long time coming.

EXPAND

We reject the bland relativism of the militant secularists.

Over the past two decades, this militant has been almost constantly in arms.

The ascent to power of a new elite of militant indigenous people has been a long time coming.

But militant stance from both camps is making matters worse.

Signs of militant activity are enough to bring in the drones.

Cue lots of talk about a renaissance of militant unionism.

When it comes to being militant on the mountain, our team has it covered.

Militant bombmakers increasingly turned to long range cordless telephones and cell phones for their triggers.

Every week, militant groups of unemployed stage street protests.

His militant stance, thought-provoking lyrics, energetic stage presence and soulful baritone were immensely influential.

The rest have been footsoldiers in the militant organizations, or civilians.

The right's reaction was less militant than might have been expected.

Pakistan is doing an excellent job of losing its internal war against militant extremists.

In general, say the organisers, people still prefer to be moderate rather than militant.

Two years ago, imprisoned militant leaders declared a ceasefire that has held until now.

One militant group recently said it was willing to let aid convoys in.

No child dreams of becoming a militant or a drug trafficker.

If you become militant or try to be a vigilante you are only going to cause problems.

More recently, militant groups have picked up their rhetoric.

Mothers with children in the service organized into militant groups and demanded revenge.

My father has always been a deeply anti-religious man-a militant atheist.

Afghan officials expressed concern about more undetected militant camps within the country's borders.

The militant rebel group al-Shabab has violently prevented many aid workers from reaching starving communities.

Petraeus is aimed at disrupting militant groups and countering other threats.

Waziristan remains firmly in militant hands, with the army reluctant to move in on the ground.

The modus operandi of these militant supporters of the blind sheik was known to be planes and booby-trapped letters.

Apart from some of the more militant die-hard fans, response to the new versions has been positive.

Kano's state government, under pressure from the militant clerics, has suspended vaccinations.

One was caught in the crossfire between militant and coalition forces.

Actually, what's really needed to make socialism more or less work is large organized cadres of militant and patient socialists.

COLLAPSE

Collins

World English Dictionary

militant (ˈmɪlɪtənt)

—*adj*
1.	aggressive or vigorous, esp in the support of a cause: a militant protest
2.	warring; engaged in warfare

—n
3.	a militant person

[C15: from Latin mīlitāre to be a soldier, from mīles soldier]

'militancy

—n

'militantness

—n

'militantly

—*adv*

Militant (ˈmɪlɪtənt)

—n
1.	short for Militant Tendency
2.	a member of Militant Tendency

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

militant

1413, from M.Fr. militant "fighting," from L. militantem (nom. militans), prp. of militare "serve as a soldier" (see militate), originally especially in Church militant. The noun, in the sense of "one engaged in war or strife," is first attested 1610, from the adj.; in

EXPAND

political sense, it is first attested 1907.

COLLAPSE

Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com

Searching for militant?
How many words do you actually know?

FIND OUT

bra burner church militant church triumphant FALN Fifth Monarchy Men Irgun

Matching Quote

"Let us pray for the whole state of Christ's Church Militant here in earth."

-Book Of Common Prayer, The

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Thesaurus

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help