...the belligerent statements from both sides which have led to fears of war.
He was almost back to his belligerent mood of twelve months ago.
Synonyms: aggressive, hostile, contentious, combative More Synonyms of belligerent
belligerentlyadverb
'Why not?' he asked belligerently.
belligerenceuncountable noun
He could be accused of passion, but never belligerence.
Synonyms: aggressiveness, hostility, animosity, antagonism More Synonyms of belligerent
2. countable noun
The belligerents in a war are the countries or groups that are fighting each other.
[formal]
The belligerents were due, once again, to try to settle their differences.
Synonyms: fighter, battler, militant, contender More Synonyms of belligerent
belligerent in British English
(bɪˈlɪdʒərənt)
adjective
1.
marked by readiness to fight or argue; aggressive
a belligerent tone
2.
relating to or engaged in a legally recognized war or warfare
noun
3.
a person or country engaged in fighting or war
Word origin
C16: from Latin belliger, from bellum war + gerere to wage
belligerent in American English
(bəˈlɪdʒərənt)
adjective
1.
at war; designating or of a state recognized under international law as being engaged in a war
2.
of war; of fighting
3.
seeking war; warlike
4.
showing a readiness to fight or quarrel
a belligerent gesture or tone
noun
5.
a belligerent person, group, or nation
SYNONYMY NOTE: belligerent implies a taking part in war or fighting or in actions that are likely to provokefighting [belligerent nations]; bellicose implies a warlike or hostile nature, suggesting a readiness to fight [a bellicose mood]; pugnacious, quarrelsome both connote aggressiveness and a willingness to initiate a fight, but , quarrelsome more often suggests pettiness and eagerness to fight for little or no reason; , contentious suggests an inclination to argue or quarrel, usually with annoying persistence
OPPOSITES: peaceful, friendly
Derived forms
belligerently (belˈligerently)
adverb
Word origin
L belligerans, prp. of belligerare, to wage war < bellum, war (see bellicose) + gerere, to carry on
Examples of 'belligerent' in a sentence
belligerent
Senior politicians use incredibly belligerent rhetoric that presents protest as a crime.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Gradually the panellists changed, becoming less flashy and belligerent and a bit quieter.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But for survivors who carried passports from belligerent nations, the story was more complex.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
Women married to aggressive men become more belligerent behind the wheel, and men whose wives are timid drivers become more careful.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Also, I take this opportunity to apologise to the deputies involved for my belligerent behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
belligerent
British English: belligerent ADJECTIVE
A belligerent person is hostile and aggressive.
...the belligerent statements from both sides.
American English: belligerent
Brazilian Portuguese: beligerante
Chinese: 好斗的
European Spanish: beligerante
French: belliqueux
German: angriffslustig
Italian: bellicoso
Japanese: 好戦的な
Korean: 공격적인
European Portuguese: beligerante
Latin American Spanish: beligerante
(adjective)
Definition
marked by readiness to fight
He was almost back to his belligerent mood of twelve months ago.
Synonyms
aggressive
Some cows are more aggressive than others.
hostile
The Governor faced hostile crowds when visiting the town.
contentious
He was a sociable if rather contentious man.
combative
Lockhart was famed for his combative style and scathing wit.
unfriendly
She spoke in a loud, rather unfriendly voice.
antagonistic
pugnacious
He was in a pugnacious mood when he spoke to us.
argumentative
You're in an argumentative mood today!
bellicose
bellicose statements threatening tough action
quarrelsome
a quarrelsome young man
aggro (Australian, New Zealand)
aggers (Australian, slang)
biffo (Australian, slang)
litigious
They are probably the most litigious people in the world.
Opposites
friendly
,
benign
,
harmonious
,
conciliatory
,
amicable
,
nonviolent
,
without hostility
(noun)
Definition
a person or country engaged in war
The belligerents were due to settle their differences.
Synonyms
fighter
She's a real fighter and has always defied the odds.
battler
militant
The militants have views directly opposed to my own.
contender
Her trainer said yesterday that she would be a strong contender for a place in the British team.
contestant
She was a former contestant in a television baking competition.