special forces

NOUN

specially trained military troops

Synonyms

WEAK

Green Berets commandos elite troops guerrilla troops paratroops rangers rapid deployment force shock troops storm troops

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.

Even though it was a covert Special Forces operation, Panetta said, he personally briefed key congressional leaders before Bin Laden’s killing took place.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

Special Forces dropped from helicopters onto the deck of the Russia-flagged Marinera in the Atlantic Ocean south of Iceland.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

Two former heads of all UK Special Forces suppressed evidence of possible SAS war crimes, a former high-ranking officer has told a public inquiry in closed evidence sessions.

From BBC • Nov. 30, 2025

Was it someone from Special Forces or the Navy or a Coast Guard vessel that happened to be nearby?

From Slate • Oct. 21, 2025

“Being Special Forces, the beret symbolized something just a little bit more. We were like peacocks; we strutted around and did the whole thing. Just full of oats.”

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge