hawkish

[haw-kish]

adjective

1. resembling a hawk, as in appearance or behavior.

2. advocating war or a belligerently threatening diplomatic policy.

ˈhawkish

/ ˈhɔːkɪʃ /

adjective

1. favouring the use or display of force rather than diplomacy to achieve foreign policy goals

Other Word Forms

• hawkishly adverb
• hawkishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hawkish¹

First recorded in 1835–45; hawk ¹ + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

On Thursday, RBA’s chief economist Sarah Hunter will speak, where she is expected to extend the hawkish message.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The growing rate-cut doubts were driven by hawkish commentary from Fed speakers and the White House suggesting that we are unlikely to see October’s unemployment rate.

Read more on Barron's

Takaichi is also famously hawkish on China and a longtime supporter of Taiwan.

Read more on BBC

As hawkish opinion has hardened, doves have had less to say publicly, though they haven’t folded.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Since taking office in June, Lee has vowed to "respect" North Korea's political system and pursue dialogue without preconditions, in a sharp break with the policies of his hawkish predecessor.

Read more on Barron's

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