paramilitaries
Unofficial armed forces
Paramilitaries are armed groups organized along military lines but not part of a country's official armed forces.
The term covers a range: guerrilla fighters, militia groups, death squads, or quasi-official forces that governments use while maintaining deniability.
Paramilitaries carried out attacks on civilian villages.
The singular paramilitary works as both noun and adjective: a paramilitary organization, a paramilitary accused of torture.
Non-professional armed force
- death squadsParamilitary execution groups
- vigilantesUnlicensed punishers of wrongdoers
- mercenariesSoldiers paid to fight
- self-defense forcesArmed community protection groups
warlords · irregulars · commandos · fighters · brigade · battalion · squadron · platoon
Those fighting established authority
- rebelsArmed opposition fighters
- guerrillasIrregular combatants, unconventional warfare
- partisansStaunch factional supporters
- revolutionariesThose seeking systemic overthrow
separatists · dissidents · resistance · underground · clandestine · covert · uprising · rebellion
Violent encounters or disagreements
- skirmishesBrief, minor combat engagements
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- violenceHarmful physical force
- combatArmed hostile engagement
fighting · raids · ambush · hit-and-run · sabotage · assassination · intimidation · ethnic cleansing
Inspection station on route
- patrolRegular surveillance route
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- protectionGuarding against harm
enforcement · escort · convoy · territory · control · occupation · policing · intimidation
System of governance
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- nationalismDevotion to one's country
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
secession · annexation · extremists · radicals · ideology · propaganda · indoctrination · recruitment
militia
Non-professional armed force
- death squadsParamilitary execution groups
- vigilantesUnlicensed punishers of wrongdoers
- mercenariesSoldiers paid to fight
self-defense forces · warlords · irregulars · commandos · fighters · brigade · battalion · squadron · platoon · cell
insurgents
Those fighting established authority
- rebelsArmed opposition fighters
- guerrillasIrregular combatants, unconventional warfare
- partisansStaunch factional supporters
revolutionaries · separatists · dissidents · resistance · underground · clandestine · covert · uprising · rebellion · insurrection
clashes
Violent encounters or disagreements
- skirmishesBrief, minor combat engagements
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- violenceHarmful physical force
combat · fighting · raids · ambush · hit-and-run · sabotage · assassination · intimidation · ethnic cleansing · atrocities
checkpoint
Inspection station on route
- patrolRegular surveillance route
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
protection · enforcement · escort · convoy · territory · control · occupation · policing · intimidation · extortion
regime
System of governance
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- nationalismDevotion to one's country
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
autonomy · secession · annexation · extremists · radicals · ideology · propaganda · indoctrination · recruitment · mobilization
- armed forcesarmy, soldiers, troops, marines, navy
- war participantssoldiers, troops, armies, army, combatants
- ColombiaBogota, Medellin, Cali, Colombian flag, Colombian coffee
- Irish HistoryGreat Famine, Easter Rising, Irish nationalism, Irish War of Independence, Irish Civil War
- armed groupsmilitia, guerrillas, insurgents, militias, guerrilla group
- oppressorstyrants, despots, dictators, autocrats, authoritarians
paramilitariesregular army
Nation's permanent military force
armed forces · standing army · conventional forces · defense forces · commissioned officers
paramilitariescivilians
Non-military population
noncombatants · civilian population · bystanders · peacekeepers · civil society
paramilitariespeace activists
Those advocating nonviolent resolution
pacifists · civil resistance · diplomatic corps · peacemakers · negotiators
military, militarism, militarist, militarize, paramilitary, militarization, militarized