mercenaries

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.

Mali imported Russia’s Wagner mercenaries in 2022, in a failed attempt to swiftly suffocate the local Islamist insurgency that has since emerged as al Qaeda’s most successful and resilient offshoot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

He previously told the BBC the FLA had remained in the city because "elements of the Malian army and Russian mercenaries" were still present.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

The report "shows mercenaries involved with drones travelling from a UAE base to Sudan before the RSF takeover of el-Fasher", he says.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

It flew in its Wagner mercenaries to support his forces and used his territory as its logistical access point to half-a-dozen sub-Saharan countries where it scooped up valuable reserves of gold, diamond and timber.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

In short, with mercenaries the greatest danger is their reluctance to fight; with auxiliaries, their military virtue.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli