militia

as in battalion
a group of people who are not part of the armed forces of a country but are trained like soldiers Local militia were an important part of American forces during the Revolutionary War.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 militia During Syria's conflict that began in March 2011, several Iraqi Shiite militias fought alongside the forces of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, making al-Sharaa today a particularly sensitive figure for them. Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025 The toppling of the Assad regime during a shock offensive by anti-Assad militia groups in December of 2024 stunned the global community, and brought about the prospect of a new beginning for the devastated country. Natasha Turak, CNBC, 13 May 2025 All three main Iranian proxies—Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthi militia—have large quantities of Chinese weapons. Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025 As Zsa-zsa and Liesl race across the region in their private jet, a radical militia led by a man named Sergio (Richard Ayode) trails them. Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for militia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for militia
Noun
  • On Tuesday afternoon, House Speaker Mike Johnson presented the medal to the family of Charity Adams Earley, the battalion’s commanding officer.
    Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
  • In the clip, a battalion commander for the I.D.F. instructs a group of soldiers who are preparing for a hostage-rescue operation in Rafah.
    Colin Jones, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • At times the mines were also under control of the Wazalendo, a militia allied with the Congolese army.
    David Yusufu Kibingila, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
  • Mosaddegh was toppled from his seat in a 1953 coup led by the Iranian army and backed by the U.K. and the U.S.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • On May 22, three soldiers who witnessed the Mount Suribachi flag-raising on the island of Iwo Jima were greeted by 1,000 schoolchildren.
    Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024
  • The goal is to slow Russia's advance and weaken their fighting power while sacrificing as few Ukrainian soldiers as possible.
    Brian Mann, NPR, 24 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Militia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/militia. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

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