hawkish
Americanadjective
-
resembling a hawk, as in appearance or behavior.
-
advocating war or a belligerently threatening diplomatic policy.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- hawkishly adverb
- hawkishness noun
Etymology
Origin of 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.
Given the mix of likely higher inflation and still-solid economic growth, economists reckon the central bank could make a hawkish shift later in the year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
“Yen gains are likely to be capped despite the BOJ’s hawkish stance if other central banks outpace the BOJ’s rate hikes or retreat from previously expected rate cuts,” amid rising oil prices, Maruyama says.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
Bond markets are reacting in kind to both the new reality of a hawkish Fed, as well as rate hike signals from the Bank of England and the European Central Bank earlier this week.
From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026
Gold is set for its third weekly decline, pressured by high energy costs and the Federal Reserve’s hawkish outlook.
From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026
Kamau was walking beside him, shoulder to shoulder, his hawkish gaze trained ahead.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
