hawkish

[ haw-kish ]

adjective

1. resembling a hawk, as in appearance or behavior.
2. advocating war or a belligerently threatening diplomatic policy.

ˈhawkish

/ ˈhɔːkɪʃ /

adjective

1. favouring the use or display of force rather than diplomacy to achieve foreign policy goals

Other Words From

• hawkish·ly adverb
• hawkish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hawkish¹

First recorded in 1835–45; hawk ¹ + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

The new Defence Minister, Israel Katz, who up until yesterday was the foreign minister, is more hawkish and much more in step with his boss’s thinking.

From BBC

But both leading Republicans and Democrats are hawkish.

From BBC

Under the Conservatives, UK-China relations blew hot and cold, between the diplomatic warmth of the so-called “golden era” to the hawkish aggression of more recent Conservative leaders.

From BBC

Experts said more hawkish views often come to the forefront at times of regional strife.

From Los Angeles Times

That speech and similar comments have been cited by some pundits as evidence of Vance making a clean break from the GOP's more hawkish wing.

From Salon

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