warlike

war·like | \ ˈwȯr-ˌlīk

How to pronounce warlike (audio)

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Definition of warlike

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

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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 So far, Donald Trump has proven less warlike than any of them. — BostonGlobe.com, "the devastation of Yemen," 5 Oct. 2019 Yet few but-for-the-grace-of-God tales can match that of George Bird Grinnell, who in 1876 received a telegram from Gen. George Armstrong Custer inviting him to join an expedition against warlike Indians. — Dennis Drabelle, Washington Post, "The adventurer who helped preserve wild lands and Indian history," 18 July 2019 The former, notably, developed in a region where resources were scarce, and became more territorial and warlike, while the latter had a much easier time finding food, leading to peaceful interactions. — Brian Lowry, CNN, "'Why We Hate' examines roots of tribalism and violence," 11 Oct. 2019 In Collins’ proposal, the talons were extended toward the surface, an image Gilruth considered too warlike. — Jamie Turner, cleveland.com, "11 things you might not know about Apollo 11 and the Space Race: Apollo 11 at 50," 17 July 2019 Yet few but-for-the-grace-of-God tales can match that of George Bird Grinnell, who in 1876 received a telegram from Gen. George Armstrong Custer inviting him to join an expedition against warlike Indians. — Dennis Drabelle, chicagotribune.com, "Grinnell: The adventurer who helped preserve wild lands and Native American history," 23 July 2019 Such concerns do not require framing NASA’s planned lunar return as part of a warlike conflict with China. — The Editors, Scientific American, "The U.S. Should Go Back to the Moon--But Not on Its Own," 3 July 2019 Our young black king, the warlike Michael, entered stage left. — Zadie Smith, The New Yorker, "Stormzy at Glastonbury: King Michael Wears His Crown," 2 July 2019 Neither side is eager for war; but Iran is definitely eager to see sanctions relaxed, and has few ways of achieving that end which do not look warlike. — The Economist, "Breaking the nuclear deal ratchets up the conflict between Iran and America," 28 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'warlike.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Warlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warlike. Accessed 18 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for warlike

warlike

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of warlike

: liking or tending to fight in wars or to start wars

: showing or suggesting that a country, group, etc., is ready or eager to fight a war

: of, relating to, or useful in war

See the full definition for warlike in the English Language Learners Dictionary

warlike

war·like | \ ˈwȯr-ˌlīk

\

Kids Definition of warlike

1 : fond of war warlike people

2 : fit for or characteristic of war warlike aggression

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