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
The Iranian foreign minister’s bellicose words should not be considered mere rhetoric, Vali Nasr, a professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, told us.
—
Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Trump’s comments were the latest in a series of recent statements and moves by him and the White House that have sought to dial back his administration’s initially bellicose comments on Pretti’s killing on Saturday in Minneapolis.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for bellicose
Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Trump’s comments were the latest in a series of recent statements and moves by him and the White House that have sought to dial back his administration’s initially bellicose comments on Pretti’s killing on Saturday in Minneapolis.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for bellicose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellicose
Adjective
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While investors had broadly praised Abel's first annual shareholder letter for reaffirming Berkshire's long-standing culture of financial strength and disciplined investing, some had hoped for more aggressive signals on capital deployment given the company's swelling cash balance.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
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Continue reading … CROSSING A LINE — JFK's grandson defends 'aggressive' posts about Vance's wife.—
,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The conflict has alarmed the international community, particularly as the area is one where other militant organizations, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, still have a presence and have been trying to resurface.—
ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
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Another militant faction, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, is a more direct Iranian proxy than Hamas in both Gaza and the West Bank.—
Foreign Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This time, the report suggests that Cosco’s ownership stake would vary by port and that some terminals in jurisdictions hostile to China could be carved out.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Mar. 2026
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While the industry has not in recent memory suffered a major disruption due to a hostile attack, smaller-scale DDoS attacks, as well as ransomware attacks, have disrupted pockets of the market.—
Reuters
Wire Service,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
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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 9 Mar. 2026.
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