Synonyms of bellicose

bellicose

adjective

ˈbe-li-ˌkōs 

as in aggressive

feeling or displaying eagerness to fight

bellicose hockey players who seem to spend more time fighting than playing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aggressive
• militant
• hostile
• belligerent
• warlike
• contentious
• assaultive
• irritable
• confrontational
• pugnacious
• combative
• acidic
• ugly
• truculent
• quarrelsome
• feisty
• fierce
• agonistic
• savage
• argumentative
• vicious
• disputatious
• discordant
• gladiatorial
• chippy
• scrappy
• rude
• antagonistic
• on the warpath
• brawly
• petulant
• cross
• irascible
• peevish
• querulous
• fighting
• warring
• disagreeable
• bilious
• fretful
• ornery
• dyspeptic
• testy
• snappish
• choleric
• waspish
• surly
• fractious
• grouchy
• hot-tempered
• grumpy
• pettish
• bristly
• huffy
• crabby
• ill-tempered
• stroppy
• battling
• touchy
• bearish
• ill-natured
• ill-humored
• cranky
• prickly
• snappy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peaceful
• peaceable
• nonaggressive
• pacific
• conciliatory
• unwarlike
• friendly
• amiable
• pleasant
• benevolent
• nonbelligerent
• cordial
• genial
• gracious
• good-natured
• affable
• complaisant
• ingratiating
• amicable
• easygoing
• sociable
• uncontentious
• calm
• quiet
• kindhearted
• uncombative
• unbelligerent
• serene
• obliging
• antimilitarist
• benign
• mild
• tranquil
• gentle
• anti-imperialist
• relaxed
• good-tempered
• kindly

Synonym Chooser

How is the word bellicose distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of bellicose are belligerent, contentious, pugnacious, and quarrelsome. While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.

a drunk in a bellicose mood

Where would belligerent be a reasonable alternative to bellicose?

In some situations, the words belligerent and bellicose are roughly equivalent. However, belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities.

belligerent nations

When could contentious be used to replace bellicose?

Although the words contentious and bellicose have much in common, contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.

wearied by his contentious disposition

When might pugnacious be a better fit than bellicose?

The words pugnacious and bellicose can be used in similar contexts, but pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.

a pugnacious gangster

When is quarrelsome a more appropriate choice than bellicose?

While the synonyms quarrelsome and bellicose are close in meaning, quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.

the heat made us all quarrelsome

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bellicose

Despite the positive data from 2024, Visit Seattle officials are wary of international uncertainty related to President Donald Trump’s bellicose rhetoric and imposition of tariffs. —Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 10 May 2025

The widespread north-of-the-border outrage provoked by Trump’s bellicose rhetoric powered Carney’s Liberal Party to a stunning comeback victory over the right-wing opposition party. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025

Polls conducted over decades show that Americans fear a leader who is bellicose or too tough. —Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

While rejecting his successor George Gascón’s move to support a resentencing of the brothers, plus dashing their hopes for a new trial in recent weeks, Hochman today made a point outside the courthouse of trying to tone down his previous bellicose stance. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2025