You use militant to describe people who believe in something very strongly and are active in trying to bring about political or social change, often in extreme ways that other people find unacceptable.
Militant mineworkers in the Ukraine have voted for a one-day stoppage next month.
...one of the most active militant groups.
Synonyms: aggressive, warring, fighting, active More Synonyms of militant
Militant is also a noun.
The militants might still find some new excuse to call a strike.
militancyuncountable noun
...the rise of trade union militancy.
militantlyadverb [usually ADVERB adjective]
Their army is militantly nationalist.
More Synonyms of militant
militant in British English
(ˈmɪlɪtənt)
adjective
1.
aggressive or vigorous, esp in the support of a cause
a militant protest
2.
warring; engaged in warfare
noun
3.
a militant person
Derived forms
militancy (ˈmilitancy) or rare militantness (ˈmilitantness)
noun
militantly (ˈmilitantly)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Latin mīlitāre to be a soldier, from mīles soldier
Militant in British English
(ˈmɪlɪtənt)
noun
1. short for Militant Tendency
2.
a member of Militant Tendency
militant in American English
(ˈmɪlɪtənt)
adjective
1.
at war; fighting
2.
ready and willing to fight; esp., vigorous or aggressive in support or promotion of a cause
noun
3.
a militant person
SIMILAR WORDS: agˈgressive
Derived forms
militancy (ˈmilitancy)
noun
militantly (ˈmilitantly)
adverb
Word origin
ME < L militans, prp. of militare, to serve as a soldier < miles (gen. militis), soldier
Synonyms of 'militant'
aggressive, warring, fighting, active
activist, radical, fighter, partisan
More Synonyms of militant
In other languages
militant
British English: militant ADJECTIVE
You use militant to describe people who believe in something very strongly and are active in trying to bring about political or social change, often in extreme ways that other people find unacceptable.
Militant mineworkers have voted for a one-day stoppage next month.
American English: militant
Brazilian Portuguese: militante
Chinese: 激进的
European Spanish: militante
French: militant
German: militant
Italian: militante
Japanese: 過激な
Korean: 강경한
European Portuguese: militante
Latin American Spanish: militante
Chinese translation of 'militant'
militant
(ˈmɪlɪtnt)
adj
(= politically active) 激进(進)的 (jījìn de)
n(c)
(= political activist) 激进(進)分子 (jījìn fènzǐ) (名, míng)
(adjective)
Definition
warring
one of the most active militant groups
Synonyms
aggressive
Some cows are more aggressive than others.
warring
He has called on the country's warring factions to end hostilities.
fighting
active
We should play an active role in politics.
combating
contending
vigorous
two-fisted
assertive
in arms
embattled
belligerent
He was almost back to his belligerent mood of twelve months ago.
combative
Lockhart was famed for his combative style and scathing wit.
Opposites
peaceful
,
pacifist
,
concessive
,
pacific
(noun)
Definition
a militant person
The militants have views directly opposed to my own.
Synonyms
activist
Human rights activists had been barred from entering the country.
radical
a former left-wing radical who was involved with the civil rights movement
fighter
She's a real fighter and has always defied the odds.
partisan
belligerent
The belligerents were due to settle their differences.
combatant
His grandfather was a Boer war combatant.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of active
Definition
energetically involved in or working hard for
We should play an active role in politics.
Synonyms
enthusiastic,
committed,
engaged,
enterprising,
devoted,
activist,
aggressive,
ambitious,
hard-working,
forward,
militant,
energetic,
assertive,
forceful,
two-fisted,
zealous,
industrious
in the sense of belligerent
Definition
marked by readiness to fight
He was almost back to his belligerent mood of twelve months ago.
Synonyms
aggressive,
hostile,
contentious,
combative,
unfriendly,
antagonistic,
pugnacious,
argumentative,
bellicose,
quarrelsome,
aggro (Australian, New Zealand),
aggers (Australian, slang),
biffo (Australian, slang),
litigious
in the sense of belligerent
Definition
a person or country engaged in war
The belligerents were due to settle their differences.
Synonyms
fighter,
battler,
militant,
contender,
contestant,
combatant,
antagonist,
warring nation,
disputant
Synonyms of 'militant'
militant
Explore 'militant' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of combatant
Definition
a person taking part in a combat
His grandfather was a Boer war combatant.
Synonyms
fighter,
soldier,
warrior,
contender,
gladiator,
belligerent,
antagonist,
fighting man,
serviceman or servicewoman
in the sense of combative
Lockhart was famed for his combative style and scathing wit.
Synonyms
aggressive,
militant,
contentious,
belligerent,
antagonistic,
pugnacious,
warlike,
carnivorous (informal),
bellicose,
truculent,
quarrelsome,
aggers (Australian, slang)
in the sense of fighter
She's a real fighter and has always defied the odds.
Synonyms
combatant,
battler,
militant,
contender,
contestant,
belligerent,
antagonist,
disputant
in the sense of radical
Definition
a person who favours fundamental change in existing institutions or in political, social, or economic conditions
a former left-wing radical who was involved with the civil rights movement
Synonyms
extremist,
revolutionary,
militant,
reformer,
fanatic,
left-winger,
zealot,
revisionist
in the sense of warring
He has called on the country's warring factions to end hostilities.