militancy

noun

mil·​i·​tan·​cy ˈmi-lə-tən(t)-sē 

: the quality or state of being militant

Synonyms

• aggression
• aggressiveness
• assaultiveness
• bellicosity
• belligerence
• belligerency
• combativeness
• contentiousness
• defiance
• disputatiousness
• feistiness
• fight
• militance
• militantness
• pugnacity
• quarrelsomeness
• scrappiness
• truculence

Examples of militancy in a Sentence

the militancy of the radical organization gave the authorities cause for concern

Recent Examples on the Web

Tajikistan will continue to be a cradle for jihadi recruitment—and Islamist militancy emanating from Central Asia will continue to threaten Russia, Turkey, and the West—until governments find a way to address its root causes. —Marlene Laruelle, Foreign Affairs, 14 May 2024

Labor union militancy has increased, as evidenced by the Boeing strike as well as a surge in strikes in 2023. —Bill Conerly, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Most polls over the last year have shown Palestinians more inclined to embrace the militancy of Hamas, an Arabic acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement. —Karl Vick, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024

Should Gaza devolve into chaotic clan warfare, that will hardly arouse concern in Jerusalem, which will care only that the effective threat of militancy is permanently removed. —Robert Grenier, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

militancy

noun

mil·​i·​tan·​cy ˈmil-ə-tən-sē 

: the quality or state of being militant