belligerence

[buh-lij-er-uhns]

noun

1. a warlike or aggressively hostile nature, condition, or attitude.

2. an act of carrying on war; warfare.

belligerence

/ bɪˈlɪdʒərəns /

noun

1. the act or quality of being belligerent or warlike; aggressiveness

Word History and Origins

Origin of belligerence¹

First recorded in 1805–15; belliger(ent) + -ence

Example Sentences

As things heat up, a few have taken the belligerence offline too.

Read more on BBC

As in, they'll be so desperate to keep the series alive in Melbourne on Saturday they'll metamorphose into a team of belligerence and belief - a band of brothers who will blow the Lions away.

Read more on BBC

Through his belligerence, Yoon has turned himself into a political martyr for many – the victim of an establishment that has been overrun by "communists".

Read more on BBC

Scotland needed more aggression, more belligerence, more directness, but they cannot live with Ireland in those areas.

Read more on BBC

Italy came again, piled on the heat, came close to another comeback but the belligerence in the home defence kept them out amid some hairy moments.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• aggressiveness www.thesaurus.com
• antagonism