hawkish

adjective

hawk·​ish ˈhȯ-kish 

1

: resembling or suggesting a hawk or the beak of a hawk in appearance

a hawkish nose

He has a thatch of black curly hair and hawkish features.

—Jeff Shear

2

: having a militant attitude (as in a dispute) and advocating immediate vigorous action

especially : supporting war or warlike policies

a hawkish politician

He was a frequent and persistently hawkish participant in the war councils of the Administration.

—Vincent Blasi

While definitions vary, "neoconservative" generally refers to formerly moderate policy advocates who favor a hawkish and assertive foreign policy to implant democracy and American values abroad.

—Paul Richter

hawkishly adverb

Land is expensive, scarce, and watched hawkishly by environmentalists.

—Boston Magazine

hawkishness noun

… his Western anti-government philosophy and cold-war hawkishness…

—Jon Meacham

Examples of hawkish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the older New York, progressive politicians such as the late Congressman Charlie Rangel were very hawkish on Israel. —Lincoln Mitchell, The Conversation, 27 June 2025

Many in Iran and abroad now fear the country’s leadership – its pride and defenses wounded – may tighten its grip at home while adopting a much more hawkish stance in both domestic and foreign policy. —Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 26 June 2025

Currently, inflation in Russia sits at nearly 10% and the central bank’s hawkish stance has interest rates up to 20% in June. —Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 22 June 2025

At one end is Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close ally of Trump but also a hawkish member who is pushing for regime change. —Al Weaver, The Hill, 18 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hawkish

• mawkish