warlike

American  

[wawr-lahyk] / ˈwɔrˌlaɪk /

adjective

1. fit, qualified, or ready for war; martial.

   a warlike fleet; warlike tribes.

2. threatening or indicating war.

   a warlike tone.

   Synonyms:

   unfriendly, inimical, hostile, belligerent, bellicose

   Antonyms:

   peaceful

3. of or relating to war.

   a warlike expedition.

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warlike British  

/ ˈwɔːˌlaɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or used in war

2. hostile or belligerent

3. fit or ready for war

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Other Word Forms

• unwarlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of warlike

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at war ¹, -like

Example Sentences

The changes will also lower the threshold for reservists to be recalled so that reservists can be recalled for "warlike preparations".

From Barron's • Jan. 15, 2026

That threshold will be lowered to "warlike preparations", which is already the threshold for reservists who have left active service in the past few years.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

The book’s poetic language offers a stark contrast to the warlike terms climate advocates tend to use to describe carbon.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2025

Knowing all this, I had expected Wallnau in person to have a fiery personality to match his warlike rhetoric.

From Slate • Sep. 25, 2024

Others argued that Denmark needed a more warlike king to challenge Norway, which stood poised to strike our leaderless state.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein