Synonyms of belligerence

belligerence

noun

bə-ˈlij-rən(t)s 

as in aggression

an inclination to fight or quarrel

the dominant male wolf was able to withstand the belligerence of younger challengers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aggression
• aggressiveness
• hostility
• defiance
• bellicosity
• belligerency
• pugnacity
• combativeness
• fight
• militancy
• truculence
• militance
• contentiousness
• feistiness
• assaultiveness
• scrappiness
• quarrelsomeness
• disputatiousness
• irritability
• antagonism
• fierceness
• unfriendliness
• chip on one's shoulder
• jingoism
• militarism
• imperialism
• militantness
• petulance
• rudeness
• surliness
• peevishness
• testiness
• irascibility
• irritableness
• grumpiness
• crankiness
• orneriness
• fractiousness
• querulousness
• crossness
• disagreeableness
• grouchiness
• fretfulness
• hyperaggressiveness
• biliousness
• huffiness
• acidity
• pettishness
• captiousness
• waspishness
• irascibleness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pacifism
• nonaggression
• friendliness
• benevolence
• cordiality
• sociability
• gentleness
• geniality
• affability
• amiability
• graciousness
• pleasantness
• antimilitarism
• mildness
• kindliness
• complaisance
• anti-imperialism
• amicability
• antiaggression
• amenability
• placability

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of belligerence

Yet the franchise, for all its mayhem, didn’t run on belligerence, or at least channelled its aggression in a disarming way. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

The previous year, troubled by the growing belligerence of the internet crowd, Atkin had enrolled in self-defense training in her neighborhood. — Literary Hub, 30 June 2026

Officers in Texas displayed startling belligerence at times, grabbing or tackling students a fraction of their size over misconduct that often appeared to be minor. — Clare Amari, New York Times, 27 May 2026

On the Season 44 premiere in September 2018, Damon parodied Kavanaugh’s Senate testimony, depicting his belligerence and frequently yelling, referencing beer, among other things — using many of the actual quotes from the hearing. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 May 2026