hawkish
Americanadjective
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resembling a hawk, as in appearance or behavior.
-
advocating war or a belligerently threatening diplomatic policy.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hawkish
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Explanation
Someone who's hawkish is in favor of going to war with other countries. The president's hawkish advisors will frequently recommend military solutions to conflicts. In politics, the adjective hawkish is useful for describing people, groups, or political parties that consistently prefer the war option for reacting to problems around the world. A hawkish politician, also called a hawk or war hawk, might vote in favor of continuing a military operation instead of ending it, for example. This word dates from the 1960s.
Vocabulary lists containing hawkish
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“To me, this suggests the bond market has been leaning too hawkish in the near-term,” he said.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
Strong purchasing managers data last week and hawkish Federal Reserve speeches are “likely keeping buyers at bay,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Then the selling compounded with each development during the day—fighting words from an Iranian official at the U.N., hawkish comments from a Federal Reserve governor and a weak auction of government bonds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Traders are responding to the Bank of Japan rate hike last week that turned out less hawkish than expected, while expectations for further U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
They were all dressed in formals, raw silks in black and gray, and their faces had the same cold, hawkish look.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
