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

Known for his hawkish foreign policy and behind-the-scenes command of Washington’s power structures, Cheney shaped Republican strategy for decades. —Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025

His hawkish positions on Iran and North Korea were not fully embraced by Bush. —Calvin Woodward, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025

The 10-year Treasury yield was little changed Friday following this week’s interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve and the central bank’s more hawkish tone on future policy. —Sean Conlon,hugh Leask, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025

But some of his top advisors, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, have adopted a notably hawkish tone. —Lyle Goldstein, Time, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hawkish

• mawkish