belligerent
warlike; given to waging war.
of warlike character; aggressively hostile; bellicose: a belligerent tone.
waging war; engaged in war: a peace treaty between belligerent powers.
pertaining to war or to those engaged in war: belligerent rights.
a state or nation at war.
a member of the military forces of such a state.
Origin of belligerent
1Other words for belligerent
Other words from belligerent
- bel·lig·er·ent·ly, adverb
- in·ter·bel·lig·er·ent, adjective
- un·bel·lig·er·ent, adjective
- un·bel·lig·er·ent·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with belligerent
- belligerence, belligerents
Words Nearby belligerent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use belligerent in a sentence
They can get belligerent, upset that “the government” has their personal information or shattered at the thought that a partner is likely cheating on them.
Babies Are Dying of Syphilis. It’s 100% Preventable. | by Caroline Chen, photography by Talia Herman, special to ProPublica | November 1, 2021 | ProPublicaSome contacts also noted a rising number of belligerent customers.
Wages Are Still Rising Across the U.S. The Bad News: So Are Prices | Nik Popli | September 9, 2021 | TimeMany of us were more likely to scroll through NextDoor than to actually go next door, viewing our neighbors through belligerent lens of an algorithm.
We Need More Kindness in Our Lives: Let's Make 143 Day a National Holiday to Honor Mr. Rogers' Legacy | Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski | May 21, 2021 | TimeOne officer explained that he had to free a man who had broken a window because the belligerent protesters outnumbered police on the scene.
Retired firefighter accused of attacking police, man carrying Confederate flag charged in Capitol riots | Spencer Hsu, Rachel Weiner, Ann Marimow | January 15, 2021 | Washington PostThe coronavirus has turned the NFL into a joke, and nobody should be laughingAnother thing about zombies is they tend to be super belligerent, yet they howl with outrage at any act that might impede them, and they are highly evasive.
The thoughtless husks who plunged this NFL season into chaos deserve a public shaming | Sally Jenkins | December 2, 2020 | Washington Post
She was belligerent to the police and had a very high blood alcohol reading.
He got more and more belligerent about the war, more and more defensive of Bush.
Either Moscow was implacably belligerent or shared the same rational interests as the United States.
Ex- CIA Chief: Why We Keep Getting Putin Wrong | Eli Lake, Noah Shachtman, Christopher Dickey | March 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIDF's Military Advocate General: legality of training is anchored in principles of 'belligerent occupation.'
The turning point was probably his angry, belligerent, aggressive and paranoid rant to the nation on June 26.
Bud scowled and turned toward him a belligerent glance, and the man stopped laughing as suddenly as he had begun.
Cabin Fever | B. M. BowerEven more belligerent than the words was the tone and the facial expression of the speaker.
In the Onyx Lobby | Carolyn WellsHe had been a clergyman during a considerable portion of his life, and he was not at all belligerent in his nature.
A Lieutenant at Eighteen | Oliver OpticThe suns and winds of many seas had burned and scored his face, and a stubby mustache gave him a belligerent aspect.
A Hoosier Chronicle | Meredith NicholsonFrom early times all belligerent nations subjected to capture the goods of an enemy in neutral ships.
The Political History of England - Vol. X. | William Hunt
British Dictionary definitions for belligerent
/ (bɪˈlɪdʒərənt) /
marked by readiness to fight or argue; aggressive: a belligerent tone
relating to or engaged in a legally recognized war or warfare
a person or country engaged in fighting or war
Origin of belligerent
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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