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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
the candidate criticized her opponent's bellicosity as divisive
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bellicose
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
Whereas other música Mexicana acts have built massive audiences by singing about their more bellicose escapades, Cornejo has made a name for himself by focusing on matters of the heart.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bellicose
Adjective
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
Whereas other música Mexicana acts have built massive audiences by singing about their more bellicose escapades, Cornejo has made a name for himself by focusing on matters of the heart.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bellicose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellicose
Adjective
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Nonprofits focused on such issues could be seen as antagonistic to the company’s aggressive commercialization efforts.—
Hayden Field,
CNBC,
23 May 2025
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The 82-year-old was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, the second most common cancer among men, with 1 in 8 being diagnosed in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
Noun
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At age twelve, Genge began playing rugby and found an outlet for his aggression.—
Vitas Carosella,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
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The level of aggression of the cancer is determined by the Gleason score and grade system.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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In December, after years of stalemate in the war, Assad’s long-standing authoritarian regime collapsed, in the face of an unexpected offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist militant group once affiliated with al-Qaida.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2025
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In response to the vote, Iraqi troops retook vast swathes of territory seized by Kurdish forces during their joint fight against the Islamic State militant group (ISIS).—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Some of countries in the continent that are rich in uranium, such as Niger and Gabon, may be delicate or difficult to deal with in the near term as both underwent military coups recently, with Niger turning hostile toward the French and more toward the Russians.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
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The game is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET and Pacers fans are sure to bring the energy and create a hostile atmosphere for New York.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
Noun
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Over the nearly 20 months since the hostilities began, Colin Clarke said there has been a radicalization effect in the U.S., particularly of the political left.—
Odette Yousef,
NPR,
28 May 2025
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Opposition to the war became hostility toward our own military.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Image In pursuit of the presidency, Mr. Simion has muted the belligerent, often xenophobic message that dominated his early career as a public figure, which began with involvement in groups of nationalist soccer fans known as ultras.—
Andrew Higgins,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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Markets fall on Trump's trade comments U.S. stocks fell Tuesday after Trump gave belligerent comments on trade deals.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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The bottom line: Bipartisanship is the most obvious casualty of Schumer's new warlike posture toward the GOP.—
Hans Nichols,
Axios,
21 Mar. 2025
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Freyja, however, is a more warlike goddess, and even has a part in selecting warriors for her hall in the afterlife.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
2 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bellicose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellicose. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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