belligerent

[ buh-lij-er-uhnt ]

adjective

1. warlike; given to waging war.
2. of warlike character; aggressively hostile; bellicose:

   a belligerent tone.

   Synonyms: contentious, antagonistic, quarrelsome, combative, truculent, pugnacious

3. waging war; engaged in war:

   a peace treaty between belligerent powers.

4. pertaining to war or to those engaged in war:

   belligerent rights.

noun

1. a state or nation at war.
2. a member of the military forces of such a state.

belligerent

/ bɪˈlɪdʒərənt /

adjective

1. marked by readiness to fight or argue; aggressive

   a belligerent tone

2. relating to or engaged in a legally recognized war or warfare

noun

1. a person or country engaged in fighting or war

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of belligerent¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of belligerent¹

C16: from Latin belliger , from bellum war + gerere to wage

Example Sentences

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.

From ProPublica

Some contacts also noted a rising number of belligerent customers.

From Time

Many of us were more likely to scroll through NextDoor than to actually go next door, viewing our neighbors through belligerent lens of an algorithm.

From Time

One officer explained that he had to free a man who had broken a window because the belligerent protesters outnumbered police on the scene.

From Washington Post

The 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.

From Washington Post

She was belligerent to the police and had a very high blood alcohol reading.

From The Daily Beast

He got more and more belligerent about the war, more and more defensive of Bush.

From The Daily Beast

Either Moscow was implacably belligerent or shared the same rational interests as the United States.

From The Daily Beast

IDF's Military Advocate General: legality of training is anchored in principles of 'belligerent occupation.'

From The Daily Beast

The turning point was probably his angry, belligerent, aggressive and paranoid rant to the nation on June 26.

From The Daily Beast

Bud scowled and turned toward him a belligerent glance, and the man stopped laughing as suddenly as he had begun.

From Project Gutenberg

Even more belligerent than the words was the tone and the facial expression of the speaker.

From Project Gutenberg

He had been a clergyman during a considerable portion of his life, and he was not at all belligerent in his nature.

From Project Gutenberg

The suns and winds of many seas had burned and scored his face, and a stubby mustache gave him a belligerent aspect.

From Project Gutenberg

From early times all belligerent nations subjected to capture the goods of an enemy in neutral ships.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aggressive
• antagonistic
• bellicose
• combative
• contentious
• hostile
• ornery
• quarrelsome