truculent

[ truhk-yuh-luhnt, troo-kyuh- ]

adjective

1. aggressively hostile; belligerent.
2. brutally harsh; vitriolic; scathing:

   Their truculent criticism of my latest work was not entirely fair.

3. savagely brutal; barbarous; cruel.

   Antonyms: gentle, kindhearted, humane

truculent

/ ˈtrʌkjʊlənt /

adjective

1. defiantly aggressive, sullen, or obstreperous
2. archaic.
   savage, fierce, or harsh

Derived Forms

• ˈtruculence, noun
• ˈtruculently, adverb

Other Words From

• truc·u·lence [truhk, -y, uh, -l, uh, ns, troo, -ky, uh, -], truc·u·len·cy noun
• truc·u·lent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of truculent¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin truculentus, equivalent to truc-, stem of trux “savage, pitiless” + -ulentus adjective suffix; -ulent

Word History and Origins

Origin of truculent¹

C16: from Latin truculentus , from trux fierce

Synonym Study

See fierce.

Example Sentences

If so, that will represent a departure from the truculent spirit of Obama and his adversaries during his first term.

From The Daily Beast

And it turns out those hard-charging characteristics are exactly what is needed to tangle with the truculent contenders.

From The Daily Beast

He described the men at the Lion d'Or as truculent, easily ready to take offense, difficult to persuade.

From Project Gutenberg

These truculent ruffians (when they have thoroughly earned a thrashing) will often accept it with most edifying docility.

From Project Gutenberg

They were led, as before, by the captain of the guard, and the truculent vizier Abdullah.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the Canadians who had been in the American Navy was unusually truculent.

From Project Gutenberg

Groups of truculent young Arabs followed us shouting objurgations, and accepting small coins as ransom.

From Project Gutenberg