combatants

noun

plural of combatant
as in soldiers
a person, group, or country that fights in a war or battle Britain was a major combatant in World War II.

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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 combatants The military campaign that ensued has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026 Former combatants seek to return to civilian life At Mekelle’s Tigray Martyrs’ Memorial Monument, former fighters lined up to register with the authorities, some carrying papers or sheltering under umbrellas. — Khaled Kazziha, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 No other branch’s members prioritize their role as combatants in an ideological battle — in this case, over what a documentary should be. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 During that time, military advisers from Hezbollah and Iran helped train Houthi commanders and combatants — and built up the group's ability to manufacture its own weapons, including drones and missiles, according to analysts. — Dov Lieber, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 The New Orleans Saints (1-2) and the Atlanta Falcons (1-2) — two NFC South combatants — meet on Monday, October 5, 2026 at Caesars Superdome. — Data Skrive, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Akhtar the author, though, is conducting a stealthy psyop aimed at detonating the certainties of combatants on both sides. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026 Major combatants The three major belligerents in the Rhodesian Bush War were the Rhodesian security forces, ZANLA, and ZIPRA. — Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026 The main combatants are Ethiopian federal troops and fighters loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF, an armed political group in Tigray, Ethiopia's northernmost regional state. — Samuel Getachew, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combatants
  1. soldiers
  2. fighters
  3. troopers
  4. warriors
Noun
  • The discovery raises the possibility of a grim outcome in the search for the four men, which has led to El Salvador deploying 450 special forces soldiers to Haiti as of Friday to aid the gang-fighting force in the search.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • In May 2024, The War Zone examined Chinese state television video showing soldiers taking cover from first-person-view (FPV) drones, using a net-catching projectile, and demonstrating a handheld jammer.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of soldiers
Noun
  • Meanwhile, al-Ali held several meetings with Saudi officers at the Defense Ministry in Riyadh to discuss the costs of transferring around 10,000 fighters, financial arrangements, additional benefits and their intended military tasks.
    — Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Ahead, the frizz fighters celebrity hairstylists, colorists, and a trichologist swear by for fine hair, along with my own take on each, from drugstore steals to splurge-worthy picks.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of fighters
Noun
  • Utah Highway Patrol troopers were called to the spot of the three-car crash, where traffic was slowing due to ongoing construction, the court documents said.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Both the Chevrolet and Panzica came to rest in the right shoulder, according to troopers.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of troopers
Noun
  • The research team intends to test other pits containing terracotta warriors and build a larger reference set of prints from ancient Chinese populations.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Govan drew upon a wide array of influences for Latif’s clothes, referencing Tuareg (particularly in the indigo color palette) and Baye Fall African warriors, as well as the more utilitarian aspects of Japanese samurai clothing.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of warriors

Browse Nearby Words

combatant
combatants
combated
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Cite this Entry

“Combatants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combatants. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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