militate

verb

mil·​i·​tate ˈmi-lə-ˌtāt How to pronounce militate (audio)
militated; militating

intransitive verb

: to have weight or effect
His boyish appearance militated against his getting an early promotion.
Mitigate vs. Militate: Usage Guide

Mitigate is sometimes used as an intransitive (followed by against) where militate might be expected. Even though Faulkner used it

some intangible and invisible social force that mitigates against him —William Faulkner

it is usually considered a mistake.

Examples of militate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Where have the universities been militating for lower tax rates at the top? — Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025 All of those things militated to blunt and really turn aside the Iranian attack. — CBS News, 11 Aug. 2024 Melanin levels varied, but most of the citizens had applied thick white lotion to their bodies to militate against UV damage from the failing yet persistent sunshine of the late British summer of a very bad year. — Hermione Hoby, Harper's Magazine, 22 June 2021 There should be no zoning laws imposed, as has been done in other states, that, in a transparent attempt dictatorially to change the character of our suburbs, militate against single-family housing in favor of multifamily dwellings. — Matt Canham, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Oct. 2021 See All Example Sentences for militate

Word History

Etymology

Latin militatus, past participle of militare to engage in warfare, from milit-, miles

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of militate was in 1598

Phrases Containing militate

Rhymes for militate

See All Rhymes for militate

Browse Nearby Words

military time
militate
militate against
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Militate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/militate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

militate

verb
mil·​i·​tate ˈmil-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce militate (audio)
militated; militating
: to have weight or effect : operate
factors militating against success
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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