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

Emboldened by the big election win, Takaichi could take a more hawkish stance with China, experts say. —Mari Yamaguchi, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026

Emboldened by the big election win, Takaichi could take a more hawkish stance with China, experts say. —Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026

Emboldened by the big election win, Takaichi could take a more hawkish stance with China, experts say. —ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026

Advertisement Takaichi’s hawkish approach to China has boosted her popularity. —Jeff Kingston, Time, 15 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hawkish

• mawkish