as in soldier
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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Recent Examples of combatant
About half of all business owners express reluctance to hire victims of the conflict, defined as anyone who suffered collective or individual damage from the armed conflict, and 78% would not employ former combatants.
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Mie Hoejris Dahl, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Jan. 2025
More than 45,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war, according to the Gazan health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
—Adam Rasgon, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025
Israeli forces have invaded both Gaza and Lebanon in its wars against Hamas and Lebanon, which have resulted in the displacement of millions of people and the killing of tens of thousands of people, civilians and combatants.
—Mike Brest, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Dec. 2024
War in Europe has exhausted the combatants, but with Russia’s weakness on display, there are some hopeful glimmers of a settlement Ukrainians can abide.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for combatant 
Mie Hoejris Dahl, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Jan. 2025
More than 45,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war, according to the Gazan health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
—Adam Rasgon, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025
Israeli forces have invaded both Gaza and Lebanon in its wars against Hamas and Lebanon, which have resulted in the displacement of millions of people and the killing of tens of thousands of people, civilians and combatants.
—Mike Brest, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Dec. 2024
War in Europe has exhausted the combatants, but with Russia’s weakness on display, there are some hopeful glimmers of a settlement Ukrainians can abide.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for combatant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combatant
Noun
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Now the soldiers and horses have been rehearsing for months, with bands playing and cannons firing, to prepare them for the pomp and circumstance of a president’s funeral, said Maj. Wes Strickland, a spokesman for the Old Guard.John Bacon, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
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When the soldiers, instead of rising up, jeered at him, Mishima killed himself in the classic samurai fashion: performing hara-kiri, or seppuku (as the Japanese more commonly call it), by plunging a sword into his abdomen before a uniformed disciple sliced his head off.Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Ewoks There may be some nostalgia for this two-season ABC series about the cute but fierce warriors from the forest moon of Endor, but Ewoks never manages to shake off its cheap 1980s Saturday morning cartoon look and format.Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2025
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While keyboard warriors were quick to question Markle's motives, experts told Fox News Digital that the delay may prove to help improve Markle's public reputation.Tracy Wright, Fox News, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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As Palisades Fire Expands East Apple Brings Back iPhone 15 Pro For First Time—At Lower Price The fighters involved on the card probably wouldn’t have been too inconvenienced by the move.Brian Mazique, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
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The package includes various missiles for air defense, air-to-ground munitions, support equipment for F-16 fighter jets, armored bridging systems, small arms and ammunition, spare parts and additional communications equipment.Filip Timotija, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Hundreds of car accidents were reported in Virginia, Indiana, Kansas and Kentucky, where a state trooper was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after his patrol car was hit.Hannah Fingerhut and Ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
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By midday Monday, state troopers in Maryland had responded to at least 475 calls for service, including 123 reported crashes and 156 unattended vehicles since 1 a.m., Maryland State Police said on social media post.Patrick Whittle, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Combatant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combatant. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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