belligerency
noun
bel·lig·er·en·cy bə-ˈlij-rən(t)-sē 
-ˈli-jə-
1
: the state of being at war or in conflict
specifically : the status of a legally recognized belligerent state or nation
2
: belligerence
Synonyms
- aggression
- aggressiveness
- assaultiveness
- bellicosity
- belligerence
- combativeness
- contentiousness
- defiance
- disputatiousness
- feistiness
- fight
- militance
- militancy
- militantness
- pugnacity
- quarrelsomeness
- scrappiness
- truculence
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
First Known Use
1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Legal Definition
belligerency
noun
bel·lig·er·en·cy bə-ˈli-jə-rən-sē
: the state of being at war or in conflict
specifically : the status whereby a recognized military force is granted the protection of the international laws of war
belligerency
noun
as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel an inveterate belligerency that needs to be addressed by classes in anger management Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- aggression
- aggressiveness
- hostility
- belligerence
- defiance
- bellicosity
- pugnacity
- fight
- militancy
- militance
- combativeness
- contentiousness
- truculence
- assaultiveness
- feistiness
- scrappiness
- quarrelsomeness
- disputatiousness
- antagonism
- irritability
- militarism
- imperialism
- unfriendliness
- fierceness
- chip on one's shoulder
- jingoism
- militantness
- irritableness
- petulance
- rudeness
- disagreeableness
- peevishness
- fractiousness
- surliness
- irascibility
- testiness
- querulousness
- crossness
- grumpiness
- fretfulness
- crankiness
- orneriness
- hyperaggressiveness
- grouchiness
- biliousness
- pettishness
- acidity
- captiousness
- huffiness
- waspishness
- irascibleness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pacifism
- nonaggression
- benevolence
- friendliness
- antimilitarism
- sociability
- amiability
- affability
- geniality
- gentleness
- cordiality
- amicability
- complaisance
- pleasantness
- graciousness
- anti-imperialism
- mildness
- kindliness
- antiaggression
- amenability
- placability