belligerent
Americanadjective
-
warlike; given to waging war.
-
of warlike character; aggressively hostile; bellicose.
a belligerent tone.
- Synonyms:
- contentious, antagonistic, quarrelsome, combative, truculent, pugnacious
-
waging war; engaged in war.
a peace treaty between belligerent powers.
-
pertaining to war or to those engaged in war.
belligerent rights.
noun
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a state or nation at war.
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a member of the military forces of such a state.
adjective
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marked by readiness to fight or argue; aggressive
a belligerent tone
-
relating to or engaged in a legally recognized war or warfare
noun
Other Word Forms
- belligerently adverb
- interbelligerent adjective
- unbelligerent adjective
- unbelligerently adverb
Etymology
Origin of belligerent
First recorded in 1570–80; earlier belligerant, from Latin belligerant-, stem of belligerāns “waging war,” present participle of belligerāre “to wage war,” verb derivative of belliger “warlike,” from belli- (combining form of bellum, earlier duellum “war”; duel ( def. ) ) + ger(ere) “to carry, conduct, display”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Colombo would follow the Hague Convention, the official added, noting it says that "a neutral power which receives on its territory troops belonging to the belligerent armies shall intern them".
From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026
As Scotland's most belligerent ball carrier, it would enhance their chances if he is physically able to make an impact.
From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026
MILAN—It’s the bright, belligerent Winter Games showdown you could have hand-carved into Italian marble two weeks ago.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026
“The original narrative was Anastasio became belligerent, they subdued him and he died,” Frey said.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026
He told about the burn, but with none of the belligerent arrogance with which he had been answering the questions kind people had put to him.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
