belligerence

[ buh-lij-er-uh ns ]

/ bəˈlɪdʒ ər əns /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR belligerence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

an act of carrying on war; warfare.

Nearby words

Origin of belligerence

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

Can be confusedbelligerence belligerents

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for belligerence

Grayson himself sees little political downside to his belligerence.
The Democrats' Joe Wilson?|Benjamin Sarlin|October 1, 2009|DAILY BEAST
As a Marine, I learned that peace is predicated on compromise, not superior firepower or belligerence.
Mission Accomplished?|Zachary Iscol|June 29, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Belligerence, mere combativeness, is a masculine attribute; but courage is not.
The home|Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Muriel Harding shrewdly surveyed the scene before her, a glint of belligerence in her eyes.
Marjorie Dean College Freshman|Pauline Lester

When you feel in a fighting mood, I wish you would expend your belligerence upon me.
Dear Enemy|Jean Webster
Parker glanced at her with a broad hint of belligerence in his keen gray eyes.
The Pride of Palomar|Peter B. Kyne
She seized her skirts with both hands and advanced upon the lady from Ypsilanti with belligerence.
The Corner House Girls|Grace Brooks Hill

British Dictionary definitions for belligerence

belligerence

/ (bɪˈlɪdʒərəns) /

noun

the act or quality of being belligerent or warlike; aggressiveness

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for belligerence

belligerence

1814; see belligerent + -ence. Related: belligerency.

belligerence

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of belligerence

Examples from the Web for belligerence

belligerence

noun

belligerence