as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
bellicose hockey players who seem to spend more time fighting than playing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bellicose
Britain, which ruled Canada, was eyeing the rich territory, so Nicholas sold it for $7 million to a less bellicose bidder: The United States.
—
Dan Morrison, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
The Fed’s debates about monetary policy come against a bellicose political backdrop, in which the central bank’s traditional independence is eroding.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 18 July 2025
On-again, off-again tariffs and economically bellicose statements have led to uncertainty, confusion, and even fear.
—Harvard Business Review, 9 July 2025
In 2017, the President returned from an impressively bellicose Bastille Day celebration in France determined to host his own version of a military parade.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bellicose
Dan Morrison, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
The Fed’s debates about monetary policy come against a bellicose political backdrop, in which the central bank’s traditional independence is eroding.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 18 July 2025
On-again, off-again tariffs and economically bellicose statements have led to uncertainty, confusion, and even fear.
—Harvard Business Review, 9 July 2025
In 2017, the President returned from an impressively bellicose Bastille Day celebration in France determined to host his own version of a military parade.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bellicose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellicose
Adjective
-
Being passive aggressive and giving non-committal responses is clearly not working.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
-
But even with the aggressive approach, the talent gap was evident.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In the militant revanche of the late Putin era, men are men, women are women, and the men are in charge.—
Julia Ioffe,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Pakistan has long accused Kabul of harboring the Pakistani Taliban militant group (known as the TTP), which its Afghan namesake denies.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The mob of rioters grew more hostile and violent, advancing toward agents and began throwing rocks and other objects at agents, including one that struck Chief Greg Bovino in the head.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Afghan refugees like him await their asylum decisions in an increasingly hostile climate marked by ICE raids and deportations.—
Vidushi Mishti Sharma,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Second, having quickly been identified by internet bloodhounds, the actual offending Polish paving magnate issued a belligerent non-apology.—
NEAL RUBIN,
Freep.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Medvedev, a former president of Russia and an ally of incumbent President Vladimir Putin, has been known to make belligerent comments against the West, which have likely been approved by the Kremlin.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
To many Chicagoans, the warlike atmosphere is the result of the increasing aggression of the federal government.—
Geraldo Cadava,
New Yorker,
16 Oct. 2025
-
His warlike actions in Iran, despite campaign promises to the contrary, blatantly bypassed the need to gain approval from the legislative branch of government.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bellicose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellicose. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share