combatants
Those who battle
Combatants are people engaged in fighting, especially soldiers or others actively participating in armed conflict.
The term distinguishes those who fight from civilians or noncombatants: The treaty protected combatants who surrendered.
In broader use, combatants are any parties in a dispute or contest: Both combatants in the debate scored points.
People engaged in battle
- gladiatorsAncient Roman combat entertainers
- knightsTitled warriors on horseback
- samuraiFeudal Japanese military caste
- centurionRoman army officer
spartan · mercenary · berserker · viking · ronin · musketeer · duelist · legionnaire
Military personnel who fight
- troopsMilitary personnel collectively
- infantryGround combat troops
- platoonSmall infantry formation
- squadSmall working group
regiment · battalion · brigade · division · corps · commando · militia · reservists
Combat engagement area
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
clash · frontline · siege · ambush · campaign · insurgency · guerrilla · resistance
Those who oppose you
- enemiesHostile opposing parties
- foesHostile opponents
- antagonistsOpponents in conflict
- rivalsThose who compete
aggressors · defenders · attackers · invaders · occupiers · liberators · allied forces · opposing forces
Professional boxing competitors
- pugilistsProfessional fist fighters
- boxersUnderwear or prizefighters
- heavyweightsDominant figures in domain
- contendersThose seeking to win
challengers · champions · sparring partners · corner · ringside · knockout · bout · rounds
warriors
People engaged in battle
- gladiatorsAncient Roman combat entertainers
- knightsTitled warriors on horseback
- samuraiFeudal Japanese military caste
centurion · spartan · mercenary · berserker · viking · ronin · musketeer · duelist · legionnaire · hoplite
soldiers
Military personnel who fight
squad · regiment · battalion · brigade · division · corps · commando · militia · reservists · conscripts
battlefield
Combat engagement area
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
skirmish · clash · frontline · siege · ambush · campaign · insurgency · guerrilla · resistance · escalation
adversaries
Those who oppose you
- enemiesHostile opposing parties
- foesHostile opponents
- antagonistsOpponents in conflict
rivals · aggressors · defenders · attackers · invaders · occupiers · liberators · allied forces · opposing forces · warring parties
prizefighters
Professional boxing competitors
- pugilistsProfessional fist fighters
- boxersUnderwear or prizefighters
- heavyweightsDominant figures in domain
contenders · challengers · champions · sparring partners · corner · ringside · knockout · bout · rounds · welterweight
- war participantssoldiers, troops, armies, army, fighters
- Duelingduel, duels, dueling, duelist, pistols at dawn
- insurgentsinsurgent, guerrillas, guerrilla, rebel, resistance fighters
- trial by combattrial by ordeal, ordeal, divine judgment, champion, challenger
- War Figuressoldiers, generals, commanders, officers, marines
- Militiascitizen militia, colonial militia, colonial militias, territorial defense, citizen army
combatantsnon-combatants
People not engaged in warfare
civilians · noncombatants · civilian population · innocent bystanders · prisoners of war
combatantssupporters
People who back something
allies · abettors · accessories · sponsors · financiers
combatantspeacemakers
Those who resolve conflicts
pacifists · peacekeepers · mediators · diplomats · negotiators
- enemy combatantsHostile armed opponents
combatant, noncombatant, non-combatant, noncombatants, non-combatants