Guerrilla — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /gə-ˈri-lə/ guer·ril·la

Meaning & Definition of Guerrilla

Guerrilla (noun)

  1. a person who engages in irregular warfare especially as a member of an independent unit carrying out harassment and sabotage

Guerrilla (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or suggestive of guerrillas especially in being aggressive, radical, or unconventional

Guerrilla (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a member of a usually small group of soldiers who do not belong to a regular army and who fight in a war as an independent unit

    "The guerrillas controlled half the country."

    similar: counterguerrilla, irregular, paramilitary, partisan, dogface, fighter, legionary, legionnaire, man-at-arms, regular, serviceman, soldier, trooper, warrior, servicewoman, carabineer, cavalier, cavalryman, cuirassier, dragoon, doughboy, footman, foot soldier, grunt, infantryman, commando, raider, jarhead (slang), marine, ranger, artilleryman, cannoneer, gunner, mortarman, musketeer, rifleman, archer, crossbowman, lancer, pikeman, spearman, Confederate, Continental, Federal, GI, guardsman, militiaman, minuteman, belligerent, combatant, lifer, veteran, warhorse, conscript, draftee, enrollee, recruit, reservist, champion, knight, digger (chiefly Australian & New Zealand), gallowglass, gendarme
    opposite: civilian, noncombatant

Guerrilla (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in aggressive, combative

    similar: aggressive, bellicose, combative, contentious, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike, martial, military, soldierly, belligerent, militant, militarist, militaristic, warring, antagonistic, argumentative, fierce, gladiatorial, hot-tempered, mercenary
    opposite: unsoldierly, civil, civilian, nonmilitary, conciliatory, nonviolent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, complaisant, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, gracious, ingratiating, obliging

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Guerrilla

The most common words with a similar meaning to Guerrilla:

Slang: jarhead
Chiefly Australian & New Zealand: digger
counterguerrilla, irregular, paramilitary, partisan, dogface, fighter, legionary, legionnaire, man-at-arms, regular, serviceman, soldier, trooper, warrior, servicewoman, carabineer, cavalier, cavalryman, cuirassier, dragoon, doughboy, footman, foot soldier, grunt, infantryman, commando, raider, marine, ranger, artilleryman, cannoneer, gunner, mortarman, musketeer, rifleman, archer, crossbowman, lancer, pikeman, spearman

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Guerrilla

Words with the opposite meaning of Guerrilla:

civilian, noncombatant, unsoldierly, civil, nonmilitary, conciliatory, nonviolent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, complaisant, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, gracious, ingratiating, obliging

Origin & Etymology of Guerrilla

Spanish guerrilla, from diminutive of guerra war, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werra strife war

First known use: 1809

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Guerrilla

Words & Phrases Containing Guerrilla

guerrilla theater, anti-guerrilla

Frequently Asked Questions about Guerrilla

What does "Guerrilla" mean?

"Guerrilla" means a person who engages in irregular warfare especially as a member of an independent unit carrying out harassment and sabotage. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a person who engages in irregular warfare especially as a member of an independent unit carrying out harassment and sabotage. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Guerrilla"?

Other words for "Guerrilla" include counterguerrilla, irregular, paramilitary, partisan, dogface, fighter, legionary and legionnaire. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Guerrilla" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Guerrilla"?

There are 85 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Guerrilla". Common alternatives include counterguerrilla, irregular, paramilitary, partisan, dogface, fighter, legionary, legionnaire, man-at-arms and regular.

What is the opposite of "Guerrilla"?

Antonyms of "Guerrilla" include civilian, noncombatant, unsoldierly, civil, nonmilitary, conciliatory, nonviolent and pacific.

How do you use "Guerrilla" in a sentence?

Examples of "Guerrilla" in a sentence: "The guerrillas controlled half the country.".

Is "Guerrilla" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Guerrilla" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Guerrilla" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Guerrilla" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Guerrilla"?

"Guerrilla" is pronounced /gə-ˈri-lə/ and divided into syllables as guer·ril·la.