Definition of "battle-hardened" [battle-hardened]

• Experienced in combat, and therefore more effective at fighting; -- used mostly of infantry troops. (adjective)

Gnu Collaboartive International Dictionary of English: licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

• "While I dithered and waited to see what would happen, my neighbors were already rampaging through the supermarket, stripping it like battle-hardened commandos—which, in a sense, they were."
• "The battle-hardened Afghan veterans of the KGB and army special forces had studied and practiced similar actions many times."
• "Libya's battle-hardened militias have been hunting Seif al-Islam, 39 years old, since he disappeared in late August after the capital, Tripoli, fell under rebel control."