warlike

adjective

war·​like ˈwȯr-ˌlīk 

1

obsolete : ready for war : equipped to fight

2

: fit for, disposed to, or fond of war : bellicose

a warlike people

3

: of, relating to, or useful in war

warlike preparations

4

: befitting or characteristic of war or a soldier

warlike cries

Synonyms

• aggressive
• militant
• hostile

Examples of warlike in a Sentence

The government has been criticized for its warlike attitude.

a seafarer's legend that the remote island was inhabited by a warlike and uncivilized tribe

Recent Examples on the Web

His warlike actions in Iran, despite campaign promises to the contrary, blatantly bypassed the need to gain approval from the legislative branch of government. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2025

The bottom line: Bipartisanship is the most obvious casualty of Schumer's new warlike posture toward the GOP. —Hans Nichols, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025

Freyja, however, is a more warlike goddess, and even has a part in selecting warriors for her hall in the afterlife. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Some characters die violently in a warlike atmosphere, and the remaining ones struggle with their losses. —Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 12 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for warlike

• alike
• belike
• birdlike
• catlike
• childlike
• christlike
• deathlike
• dislike
• dreamlike
• friedreich
• godlike
• hairlike

Kids Definition

warlike

adjective

war·​like ˈwȯ(ə)r-ˌlīk 

1

: fond of war

warlike people

2

: of, relating to, or used in war

warlike preparations