footsoldier
Lowly military grunt
A footsoldier is an infantry soldier—one who fights on foot rather than on horseback or in vehicles.
The term extends figuratively to anyone doing the unglamorous groundwork for a cause or organization: Party footsoldiers went door to door before the election.
Also spelled as two words: foot soldier.
Unwitting tool of another
- loyalistFaithful supporter of authority
- followerOne who supports another
- operativeCovert field agent
- underlingPerson of lower rank
henchman · minion · grunt · rank-and-file · disposable · expendable · obedient · dedicated
Small infantry formation
- regimentColonel-led military unit
- battalionMid-sized military unit
- squadSmall working group
- fireteamSmallest infantry element
march · patrol · drill · formation · maneuver · barracks · deployment · garrison
pawn
Unwitting tool of another
underling · henchman · minion · grunt · rank-and-file · disposable · expendable · obedient · dedicated · faithful
platoon
Small infantry formation
fireteam · march · patrol · drill · formation · maneuver · barracks · deployment · garrison · trenches
legionnaire
Soldier in a legion
musketeer · pikeman · lancer · grenadier · fusilier · dragoon · yeoman · samurai · sepoy · doughboy
skirmish
Brief, limited combat
engagement · flank · charge · advance · retreat · siege · barrage · bayonet · rifle · grenade
- combatantswarrior, fighter, swordsman, spearman, infantryman
- warriorsfighter, knight, barbarian, samurai, warrior
- recruitsrecruit, new recruit, raw recruit, draftee, conscript
- hired killersassassin, hitman, sicario, contract killer, hired gun
footsoldiercavalryman
Soldier who fights mounted
horseman · cavalry · mounted soldier · airman · pilot
footsoldiergeneral
Widespread, not specialized
commander · field marshal · commanding officer · admiral · warlord
footsoldiermastermind
Scheme's chief planner
kingpin · leader · boss · ringleader · decision-maker
foot, soldier, footed, footer, footing, footwork, footprint, footstep, footwear