belligerent
adjective
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Belligerent, Belligerents, and Belligerence
Belligerent may function as either an adjective or a noun. As an adjective, it has two primary meanings, each of which corresponds to the two senses of its noun form.
The older sense (“waging war”) is generally used to refer to the actions or combatants of a nation at war, or to the nation itself ("belligerent operations"; "belligerent troops"; “the belligerent state”); it is paralleled by the earliest sense of the noun, “a nation at war” (“the belligerents assembled at the peace conference”). The second sense of belligerent (“inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness”), which usually applies to persons or animals, or to their attitudes or actions, likewise parallels the second sense of the noun (“a person taking part in a fight”). A related noun belligerence refers to “an aggressive or truculent attitude, atmosphere, or disposition” that can be either individual or global.
Synonyms
- aggressive
- agonistic
- argumentative
- assaultive
- bellicose
- brawly
- chippy
- combative
- confrontational
- contentious
- discordant
- disputatious
- feisty
- gladiatorial
- militant
- pugnacious
- quarrelsome
- scrappy
- truculent
- warlike
Example Sentences
Christopher Hitchens, New York Times Book Review, 8 Oct. 2000 Coots are belligerent, territorial, quick-tempered birds. Nothing irritates a coot like another coot … Kenneth Brower, Smithsonian, December 1998 Instead, we revered the guys on the streets, the thugs who were brazen and belligerent. They wore their hats backwards, left their belt buckles unfastened and shoelaces untied. Nathan McCall, Washington Post, 25-31 Mar. 1991 She was a brigantine, a small two-masted vessel, refitted for belligerent action in the newly created American Navy. Barbara W. Tuchman, The First Salute, 1988 He was drunk and belligerent. the player became quite belligerent and was thrown out of the game See More Cheryl Higley, cleveland, 25 June 2022 Perhaps the strangest twist of all: the country of Belarus, Russia’s co-belligerent in the assault on Ukraine, just offered the United States baby formula. Rita Numerof, Forbes, 10 June 2022 As strange as the content gets, what makes the show so endearing is the Schiefers’ rapport, their palpable bewilderment at the opinions expressed, and their compassion for the service workers forced to deal with belligerent customers. New York Times, 28 June 2022 President Xi Jinping has aligned his nation with Russia in the fight over Ukraine while at the same time making increasingly belligerent moves toward Taiwan, the island that claims independence but that China considers its own. Eli Stokols, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2022 As if America and Pelosi are the problem, and not the despotic, expansionist, belligerent government in Beijing. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 30 July 2022 To completely and utterly violate a woman’s personal images and information for the masochistic entertainment of belligerent men. Andy Meek, BGR, 28 July 2022 As strange as the content gets, what makes the show so endearing is the Schiefers’ rapport, their palpable bewilderment at the opinions expressed, and their compassion for the service workers forced to deal with belligerent customers. Emma Dibdin, BostonGlobe.com, 3 July 2022 Over three generations, the Kim dynasty has only become more belligerent, better armed, and more obstinate. Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
modification of Latin belligerant-, belligerans, present participle of belligerare to wage war, from belliger waging war, from bellum war + gerere to wage
1577, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
belligerent 1 of 2
adjective
belligerent
2 of 2noun
Legal Definition
belligerent 1 of 2
adjective
belligerent
2 of 2noun
belligerent 1 of 2
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- aggressive
- militant
- hostile
- bellicose
- irritable
- confrontational
- assaultive
- contentious
- combative
- pugnacious
- warlike
- truculent
- quarrelsome
- acidic
- feisty
- ugly
- argumentative
- fierce
- agonistic
- rude
- savage
- disputatious
- vicious
- chippy
- scrappy
- antagonistic
- gladiatorial
- brawly
- discordant
- fighting
- petulant
- irascible
- ornery
- cross
- snappish
- peevish
- surly
- querulous
- warring
- fretful
- disagreeable
- grumpy
- bilious
- testy
- grouchy
- pettish
- fractious
- hot-tempered
- crabby
- choleric
- huffy
- on the warpath
- dyspeptic
- stroppy
- bristly
- waspish
- ill-tempered
- battling
- touchy
- cranky
- ill-humored
- bearish
- ill-natured
- prickly
- snappy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonbelligerent
- nonaggressive
- peaceable
- peaceful
- pacific
- amiable
- conciliatory
- friendly
- unwarlike
- benevolent
- cordial
- affable
- pleasant
- gracious
- easygoing
- ingratiating
- complaisant
- uncontentious
- genial
- sociable
- amicable
- antimilitarist
- obliging
- unbelligerent
- calm
- kindhearted
- quiet
- uncombative
- serene
- good-natured
- benign
- mild
- gentle
- anti-imperialist
- tranquil
- relaxed
- good-tempered
- kindly
belligerent
2 of 2noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- combatant
- warrior
- soldier
- trooper
- cavalier
- serviceman
- regular
- dogface
- fighter
- legionary
- marine
- dragoon
- cavalryman
- servicewoman
- legionnaire
- grunt
- infantryman
- raider
- doughboy
- ranger
- carabinier
- cuirassier
- artilleryman
- man-at-arms
- carabineer
- foot soldier
- jarhead
- footman
- commando
- cannoneer
- mortarman
- rifleman
- archer
- gunner
- musketeer
- crossbowman
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- civilian
- noncombatant
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of belligerent are bellicose, contentious, pugnacious, and quarrelsome. While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities.
The words bellicose and belligerent can be used in similar contexts, but bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.
The synonyms contentious and belligerent are sometimes interchangeable, but contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.
While the synonyms pugnacious and belligerent are close in meaning, pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.
The words quarrelsome and belligerent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.