belligerent

adjective

bel·lig·er·ent bə-ˈlij-rənt How to pronounce belligerent (audio)

-ˈli-jə-

: inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness

: waging war

specifically : belonging to or recognized as a state at war and protected by and subject to the laws of war

belligerent noun

belligerently adverb

Did you know?

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.

Example Sentences

… it took very little alcohol to make him belligerent, and he became even more thuggish and incoherent when he threw in a few sleeping pills as well.

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

Recent Examples on the Web After being refused by the employee, the suspect became belligerent.

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

单词	belligerents
释义	belligerent adjective bel·lig·er·ent bə-ˈlij-rənt -ˈli-jə- 1 : inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness 2 : waging war specifically : belonging to or recognized as a state at war and protected by and subject to the laws of war belligerent noun belligerently adverb Did you know? 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 See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences … it took very little alcohol to make him belligerent, and he became even more thuggish and incoherent when he threw in a few sleeping pills as well. 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 Recent Examples on the Web After being refused by the employee, the suspect became belligerent. 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 Etymology modification of Latin belligerant-, belligerans, present participle of belligerare to wage war, from belliger waging war, from bellum war + gerere to wage First Known Use 1577, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Kids Definition belligerent 1 of 2 adjective bel·lig·er·ent bə-ˈli-jə-rənt 1 : carrying on war belligerent nations 2 : feeling or showing readiness to fight belligerent remarks a belligerent stranger belligerent 2 of 2 noun 1 : a nation at war 2 : a person taking part in a fight Legal Definition belligerent 1 of 2 adjective bel·lig·er·ent bə-ˈli-jə-rənt 1 : waging war : carrying on war specifically : belonging to or recognized as an organized military power protected by and subject to the laws of war 2 : inclined to or exhibiting hostility or a combative temperament belligerent 2 of 2 noun : a belligerent nation, state, or person belligerents noun plural of belligerent as in combatants Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance combatants soldiers warriors servicemen troopers legionaries regulars legionnaires fighters dragoons cavalrymen dogfaces servicewomen infantrymen marines cavaliers men-at-arms doughboys cuirassiers carabiniers raiders carabineers commandoes rangers foot soldiers grunts riflemen artillerymen footmen commandos cannoneers gunners jarheads musketeers archers crossbowmen mortarmen Antonyms & Near Antonyms civilians noncombatants
随便看	razon razon bomb razoos razor razor blade razor clam razor edge razor fish razor grass razor saw razor shell razor stone razor strop razor wire razor's edge razor-backed razor-billed razor-billed curassow razor-grinder razor-sharp razor-thin razorable razorback razorback buffalo fish razorback sucker

belligerent

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

noun

Legal Definition

adjective

noun

noun