as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
bellicose hockey players who seem to spend more time fighting than playing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bellicose
Later archeological research, including forensic examination of skeletal remains, has turned up no evidence for cannibalism or for a particularly bellicose society on Rapa Nui.
—
Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Once the bluster and bellicose posturing has cleared, Europe is left with the war of today, not the one that probably won’t happen tomorrow.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
For days, the president has issued increasingly bellicose warnings toward Tehran as protests have convulsed the Islamic Republic.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Fed up with Tony’s bellicose style and an unwillingness to meaningfully negotiate, Deerfield Beach would have to start its own police force and fire-rescue service — a major undertaking that will take two years.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bellicose
Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Once the bluster and bellicose posturing has cleared, Europe is left with the war of today, not the one that probably won’t happen tomorrow.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
For days, the president has issued increasingly bellicose warnings toward Tehran as protests have convulsed the Islamic Republic.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Fed up with Tony’s bellicose style and an unwillingness to meaningfully negotiate, Deerfield Beach would have to start its own police force and fire-rescue service — a major undertaking that will take two years.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bellicose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellicose
Adjective
-
The recent turmoil is testing some of the foundations that powered private credit’s rapid growth, including aggressive underwriting, highly leveraged middle-market borrowers and the promise of stable capital insulated from bank-style runs.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Belt-Stubblefield did not take aggressive action and tried to walk away.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Pakistan’s state-run media later reported that militant fatalities had risen to 80.—
Munir Ahmed,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The president has given the regime less than two weeks to come back with proposals on curbing its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and support for proxy militant groups.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Bushey’s hostile behavior following his sister’s arrival caused Laurie and her mother to take several safety measures out of fear, such as removing knives from the home, changing the locks, and finally pursuing a restraining order against Bushey and taking steps to evict him, Pirrello said.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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As events are leaning toward David Ellison and Paramount prevailing in its $108 billion hostile-takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery, almost a dozen Republican state attorneys general are insisting that the federal government heavily scrutinize Netflix‘s bid for the iconic studio.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In 2018, mixed martial-arts champion Matt Serra was having a family meal in a restaurant when a belligerent drunken man entered, threatening servers and patrons.—
Timothy J. Pawl,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2026
-
However, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka was confident to chase under overcast conditions after beating Australia earlier in a group match when opening batter Pathum Nissanka scored a belligerent century.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Ludwig’s distant paternal ancestors were in fact German Jewish merchants, not warlike princes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
To many Chicagoans, the warlike atmosphere is the result of the increasing aggression of the federal government.—
Geraldo Cadava,
New Yorker,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bellicose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellicose. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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