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View synonyms for belligerent

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
“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


noun

  1. a person or country engaged in fighting or war
“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
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Other Words From

  • bel·liger·ent·ly adverb
  • inter·bel·liger·ent adjective
  • unbel·liger·ent adjective
  • unbel·liger·ent·ly adverb
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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”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of belligerent1

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

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.

Some contacts also noted a rising number of belligerent customers.

From 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.

From 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.

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.

She was belligerent to the police and had a very high blood alcohol reading.

He got more and more belligerent about the war, more and more defensive of Bush.

Either Moscow was implacably belligerent or shared the same rational interests as the United States.

IDF's Military Advocate General: legality of training is anchored in principles of 'belligerent occupation.'

The turning point was probably his angry, belligerent, aggressive and paranoid rant to the nation on June 26.

Bud scowled and turned toward him a belligerent glance, and the man stopped laughing as suddenly as he had begun.

Even more belligerent than the words was the tone and the facial expression of the speaker.

He had been a clergyman during a considerable portion of his life, and he was not at all belligerent in his nature.

The suns and winds of many seas had burned and scored his face, and a stubby mustache gave him a belligerent aspect.

From early times all belligerent nations subjected to capture the goods of an enemy in neutral ships.

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belligerencybelling