belligerent

[buh-lij-er-uhnt]

adjective

1. warlike; given to waging war.

2. of warlike character; aggressively hostile; bellicose.

   a belligerent tone.

   Synonyms: contentious, antagonistic, quarrelsome, combative, truculent, pugnacious

3. waging war; engaged in war.

   a peace treaty between belligerent powers.

4. pertaining to war or to those engaged in war.

   belligerent rights.

noun

1. a state or nation at war.

2. a member of the military forces of such a state.

belligerent

/ bɪˈlɪdʒərənt /

adjective

1. marked by readiness to fight or argue; aggressive

   a belligerent tone

2. relating to or engaged in a legally recognized war or warfare

noun

1. a person or country engaged in fighting or war

Other Word Forms

• belligerently adverb
• interbelligerent adjective
• unbelligerent adjective
• unbelligerently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of belligerent¹

First recorded in 1570–80; earlier belligerant, from Latin belligerant-, stem of belligerāns “waging war,” present participle of belligerāre “to wage war,” verb derivative of belliger “warlike,” from belli- (combining form of bellum, earlier duellum “war”; duel ( def. ) ) + ger(ere) “to carry, conduct, display”

Word History and Origins

Origin of belligerent¹

C16: from Latin belliger , from bellum war + gerere to wage

Example Sentences

Most wars end with exhausted belligerents making some kind of agreement.

Read more on BBC

While most European countries strongly support Ukraine, leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron have consistently stressed they are not a "belligerent" party in the conflict.

Read more on Barron's

The Tongan brothers are sophisticated, belligerent and accustomed to privilege; Kōrero’s people are humble, pacifist and poor.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

European states meanwhile are under pressure to expand spending on defense to counter a belligerent Russia and on healthcare for their aging populations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

General Assembly to deliver a belligerent and lengthy speech when the escalator he and the first lady were riding stopped abruptly, forcing them to walk the rest of the way up.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• aggressive 
• antagonistic 
• bellicose 
• combative 
• contentious 
• hostile 
• ornery 
• quarrelsome