as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
the candidate criticized her opponent's bellicosity as divisive
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Recent Examples of bellicosity
The Supreme Court’s invalidation of most Trump tariffs and the bellicosity of his response, which included the immediate imposition of new 10% tariffs across the board and the threat to increase them to 15%, have done nothing to settle investors’ nerves.
—
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
The beating death of ultraconservative activist Quentin Deranque in the French city of Lyon last week has pushed both the country’s far right and left flanks toward bellicosity, as both ends of the political spectrum blame the other for his death and the threat of further violence.
—Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 20 Feb. 2026
And should Trump ramp up the bellicosity of his rhetoric once again, Greenland might even be pushed closer to China, the WoodMac analysts warned.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
London has dispatched its Prime Minister to deescalate the bellicosity.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
Trump may get away with this approach; his unpredictability, and Netanyahu’s bellicosity, will temper the mullahs’ atomic ambitions for now.
—Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
The beating death of ultraconservative activist Quentin Deranque in the French city of Lyon last week has pushed both the country’s far right and left flanks toward bellicosity, as both ends of the political spectrum blame the other for his death and the threat of further violence.
—Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 20 Feb. 2026
And should Trump ramp up the bellicosity of his rhetoric once again, Greenland might even be pushed closer to China, the WoodMac analysts warned.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
London has dispatched its Prime Minister to deescalate the bellicosity.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
Trump may get away with this approach; his unpredictability, and Netanyahu’s bellicosity, will temper the mullahs’ atomic ambitions for now.
—Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellicosity
Noun
-
Russia’s unprovoked aggression has forced millions of Ukrainians to put their lives on hold.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from his event for wearing a black-and-white helmet depicting athletes killed in Russia’s war of aggression against his homeland.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Trotter said that aggressiveness is intentional, particularly as a blitzer.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2026
-
But Allar didn’t play well in six games as a senior, struggling with inconsistency and aggressiveness.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Chinese renewables manufacturers currently face huge uncertainty — and often hostility — while doing business in Europe.—
Xiaoying You,
semafor.com,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The conflict, known as the Troubles, began after civil rights protestors in Northern Ireland were met with hostility by authorities in 1969.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bellicosity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellicosity. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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