bellicose

[bel-i-kohs]

adjective

1. inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent; pugnacious.

bellicose

/ ˈbɛlɪˌkəʊs, -ˌkəʊz, ˌbɛlɪˈkɒsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. warlike; aggressive; ready to fight

Other Word Forms

• bellicosely adverb
• bellicosity noun
• bellicoseness noun
• unbellicose adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bellicose¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin bellicōsus, equivalent to bellic(us) “pertaining to war” ( bell(um) “war” + -icus -ic ) + -ōsus -ose ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bellicose¹

C15: from Latin bellicōsus , from bellum war

Example Sentences

Tshisekedi, addressing members of the Congolese diaspora in Cairo on Saturday, accused Rwanda of "bellicose and hegemonic" intentions in the DRC.

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I think about Beallsville every time the world grows especially bellicose, and talk of preparation for armed conflict becomes animated.

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He is the same officer Paetongtarn had complained about, and his bellicose nationalism has won him plenty of fans in Thailand but has also undermined the government's authority.

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At about the same time, more bellicose Republicans were celebrating the attacks on social media.

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Despite his bellicose Christianity, however, Donald Trump's appointee had no problem violating the biblical commandment against bearing false witness.

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Related Words

• antagonistic 
• combative 
• threatening