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mercenary

[mur-suh-ner-ee] / ˈmɜr səˌnɛr i /


NOUN
person who fights, kills for money
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I’d love to do the hometown team, but I’m a mercenary whistler,” Ullman said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

Russia's mercenary Wagner Group, which had been fighting with Malian forces against jihadists since 2021, ended its involvement in June 2025.

From Barron's • Apr. 25, 2026

A 26-year-old basketball mercenary at his fifth school, Baker-Mazara is the average age of an NBA player.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2026

Those glimpses of humanity had a way of rendering the mercenary atmosphere in the tent city incredibly disorienting—almost unreal.

From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026

As Chronicler stared dumbly at the ruined weapon the mercenary took a step forward and laid his empty hand lightly on the scribe’s shoulder.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss




Vocabulary lists containing mercenary


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