belligerent

[ buh-lij-er-uhnt ]

/ bəˈlɪdʒ ər ənt /

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See synonyms for: belligerent / belligerents on Thesaurus.com

adjective

warlike; given to waging war.

of warlike character; aggressively hostile; bellicose: a belligerent tone.

waging war; engaged in war: a peace treaty between belligerent powers.

pertaining to war or to those engaged in war: belligerent rights.

noun

a state or nation at war.

a member of the military forces of such a state.

OTHER WORDS FOR belligerent

2 pugnacious, truculent, combative, quarrelsome, antagonistic, contentious.

See synonyms for belligerent on Thesaurus.com

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of belligerent

1570–80; <Latin belliger waging war (belli-, combining form of bellum war + ger-, base of gerere to conduct) + -ent; replacing belligerant<Latin belligerant- (stem of belligerāns, present participle of belligerāre to wage war; see -ant)

OTHER WORDS FROM belligerent

bel·lig·er·ent·ly, adverbin·ter·bel·lig·er·ent, adjectiveun·bel·lig·er·ent, adjectiveun·bel·lig·er·ent·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH belligerent

belligerence, belligerents

Words nearby belligerent

bellicose, bellied, belligerati, belligerence, belligerency, belligerent, belling, Bellingham, Bellingshausen, Bellingshausen Sea, Bellini

How to use belligerent in a sentence

They can get belligerent, upset that “the government” has their personal information or shattered at the thought that a partner is likely cheating on them.
Babies Are Dying of Syphilis. It’s 100% Preventable.|by Caroline Chen, photography by Talia Herman, special to ProPublica|November 1, 2021|ProPublica
Some contacts also noted a rising number of belligerent customers.
Wages Are Still Rising Across the U.S. The Bad News: So Are Prices|Nik Popli|September 9, 2021|Time
Many of us were more likely to scroll through NextDoor than to actually go next door, viewing our neighbors through belligerent lens of an algorithm.
We Need More Kindness in Our Lives: Let's Make 143 Day a National Holiday to Honor Mr. Rogers' Legacy|Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski|May 21, 2021|Time
One officer explained that he had to free a man who had broken a window because the belligerent protesters outnumbered police on the scene.
Retired firefighter accused of attacking police, man carrying Confederate flag charged in Capitol riots|Spencer Hsu, Rachel Weiner, Ann Marimow|January 15, 2021|Washington Post

The coronavirus has turned the NFL into a joke, and nobody should be laughingAnother thing about zombies is they tend to be super belligerent, yet they howl with outrage at any act that might impede them, and they are highly evasive.
The thoughtless husks who plunged this NFL season into chaos deserve a public shaming|Sally Jenkins|December 2, 2020|Washington Post
She was belligerent to the police and had a very high blood alcohol reading.
Yes, Rick Perry Could End Up Doing Time|Dean Obeidallah|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He got more and more belligerent about the war, more and more defensive of Bush.
You, Chris McDaniel, Are No Ned Lamont|Michael Tomasky|June 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Either Moscow was implacably belligerent or shared the same rational interests as the United States.
Ex- CIA Chief: Why We Keep Getting Putin Wrong|Eli Lake, Noah Shachtman, Christopher Dickey|March 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
IDF's Military Advocate General: legality of training is anchored in principles of 'belligerent occupation.'
Syrian Baby Born in Israeli Hospital|Orly Halpern|November 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The turning point was probably his angry, belligerent, aggressive and paranoid rant to the nation on June 26.
Coup by Acclamation?|Hussein Ibish|July 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Bud scowled and turned toward him a belligerent glance, and the man stopped laughing as suddenly as he had begun.
Cabin Fever|B. M. Bower
Even more belligerent than the words was the tone and the facial expression of the speaker.
In the Onyx Lobby|Carolyn Wells
He had been a clergyman during a considerable portion of his life, and he was not at all belligerent in his nature.
A Lieutenant at Eighteen|Oliver Optic
The suns and winds of many seas had burned and scored his face, and a stubby mustache gave him a belligerent aspect.
A Hoosier Chronicle|Meredith Nicholson
From early times all belligerent nations subjected to capture the goods of an enemy in neutral ships.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt

British Dictionary definitions for belligerent

belligerent

/ (bɪˈlɪdʒərənt) /

adjective

marked by readiness to fight or argue; aggressivea belligerent tone

relating to or engaged in a legally recognized war or warfare

noun

a person or country engaged in fighting or war

Word Origin for belligerent

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

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

belligerent

OTHER WORDS FOR belligerent

Origin of belligerent

OTHER WORDS FROM belligerent

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH belligerent

Words nearby belligerent

Words related to belligerent

How to use belligerent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for belligerent

Word Origin for belligerent