mercenary
noun
Pronunciation: /ˈmɜːrsəneri/
Definition
A professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army for financial gain.
Examples
The small nation hired a group of mercenaries to bolster its defenses during the border conflict.
Many historical empires relied on mercenaries when their own citizens were unwilling to fight.
The mercenary demanded payment in gold before agreeing to lead the mission.
How to Use mercenary
- mercenary soldier (collocation)
- a soldier who fights for money — "The mercenary soldier was highly trained but lacked loyalty to the cause."
- mercenary motives (collocation)
- actions driven only by financial gain — "The company's decision was criticized for its purely mercenary motives."
Synonyms of mercenary
Words with a similar meaning to mercenary:
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