as in military
of or relating to a group that is not an official army but that operates and is organized like an army
Government forces have been attacked by heavily armed paramilitary groups in several villages. a paramilitary police force
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in guerilla
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paramilitary
Laura Kelly, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2025
What To Know Sudan plunged into war last year as rival generals leading the military and paramilitary forces turned on each other.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
The alleged perpetrators include former state officials, former members of armed rebel and paramilitary groups, and companies and businesspeople.
—Annie Hylton, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2025
In September 1981, paramilitary troops gunned down 45 men, women, and children in the town of Las Navas in the central Philippines.
—Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for paramilitary 
Adjective
But civil war broke out in that country in 2023 and the Biden administration has sanctioned a top general and determined that general’s paramilitary forces, the Rapid Support Forces, have committed genocide.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2025
What To Know Sudan plunged into war last year as rival generals leading the military and paramilitary forces turned on each other.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
The alleged perpetrators include former state officials, former members of armed rebel and paramilitary groups, and companies and businesspeople.
—Annie Hylton, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2025
In September 1981, paramilitary troops gunned down 45 men, women, and children in the town of Las Navas in the central Philippines.
—Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for paramilitary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paramilitary
Adjective
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The individual, a military veteran, was swept up without cause.—
Esteban Rodriguez,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2025
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The Federal Aviation Administration said the midair crash occurred before 9 p.m. EST when a regional jet that had departed from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military helicopter on a training flight while on approach to an airport runway.—
LOLITA C. BALDOR,
TIME,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Denmark had been weakened by its defeat during the Second Schleswig War of 1864, and at this moment of Danish weakness, Seward had already discussed the purchase of Danish islands in the Caribbean to establish a naval base.—
James Patton Rogers & Caroline Kennedy Pipe / Made by History ,
TIME,
23 Jan. 2025
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The modernization of the People's Liberation Army naval fleet is being counted in years rather than decades, while China's Rocket Force could operate 1,000 nuclear warheads by the end of the decade, a recent U.S. Defense Department assessment said.—
Micah McCartney,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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On Tuesday many were unsure about whether Petro, who has vowed war on left-wing guerrillas amid the frightening wave of violence, would even make the trip.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2025
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In the 1970s, her grandfather fought for a guerrilla movement called Frelimo in Mozambique’s struggle for independence from Portugal.—
Ryan Lenora Brown,
The Christian Science Monitor,
15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The confirmation dealt, at least symbolically, a powerful blow to the militant group, particularly since the elusive Deif was considered iconic among Hamas fighters for surviving multiple assassination attempts.—
Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports,
arkansasonline.com,
31 Jan. 2025
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Unusually, that handover was a joint affair between Hamas and several allied militant groups.—
Mick Krever,
CNN,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Context The crash comes days after an American Airlines passenger jet carrying 64 people collided midair with an Army Black Hawk helicopter crewed by three soldiers.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
1 Feb. 2025
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The plane had 60 passengers and four crew members on board, and the helicopter was carrying three soldiers.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In a word, even before yesterday, Donbas was well on its way to becoming Ukraine’s Bosnia -- with Putin playing the part of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, Russia playing the part of Serbia, and Putin’s Donbas supporters playing the part of Bosnian Serb irregulars.—
Alexander J. Motyl,
Foreign Affairs,
17 July 2014
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But when strong-arm tactics by security irregulars failed to suppress the massive demonstrations in Tahrir Square, the senior officer corps, who regarded themselves foremost as guardians of the first Egyptian revolution, sent Mubarak into retirement.—
Robert H. Pelletreau,
Foreign Affairs,
24 Feb. 2011
Noun
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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.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
Fox News,
28 Jan. 2025
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The play follows Moorish commanding warrior general Othello as he is manipulated by his ambitious lieutenant, Iago, into suspecting his wife, Desdemona, of infidelity.—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near paramilitary
Cite this Entry
“Paramilitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paramilitary. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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