Word info Synonyms Antonyms

mercenary

Speech parts

1. mercenary - Noun

2. mercenary - Adjective

3. mercenary - Adjective Satellite

Meaning

Acting for reward; serving for pay; paid; hired; hireling; venal; as, mercenary soldiers.

Hence: Moved by considerations of pay or profit; greedy of gain; sordid; selfish.

One who is hired; a hireling; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service.

Source: Webster's dictionary

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Examples

The Renaissance was a time of mercenary soldiers, ours is a time of mercenary labor. Eric Hoffer

Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world that a Freeman, contending for liberty on his own ground, is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth. George Washington

I never tried to be a mercenary or a killer but a hard working fighter. Larry Holmes

The (Catholic) church, as far as I know, has not endorsed any war as just since it supported General Franco's invasion of Spain to destroy the Spanish republic with a Muslim mercenary army in the thirties, on the side of Hitler. Christopher Hitchens

As for myself, my course is clear. A British subject I was born - a British subject I will die. With my utmost effort, with my latest breath, will I oppose the ‘veiled treason' which attempts by sordid means and mercenary proffers to lure our people from their allegiance. John A. Macdonald

A mercenary mercy killer who was prepared to sell death. John Bodkin Adams

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