as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
the dominant male wolf was able to withstand the belligerence of younger challengers
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Recent Examples of belligerence
Kennedy’s needling belligerence and openness to unpopular views served him well as a skeptic.
—
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
There’s been plenty of disturbing news lately about energy belligerence and blackouts, for instance.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
On October 15, 1924, André Breton published a manifesto that was as notable for its belligerence as its egotism.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Wolff said Xi may not be ready to take Taiwan by force yet as there are other hotspots in the South China Sea where the U.S. potentially would be obliged to intervene against Chinese belligerence, such as the Philippines.
—John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belligerence
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
There’s been plenty of disturbing news lately about energy belligerence and blackouts, for instance.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
On October 15, 1924, André Breton published a manifesto that was as notable for its belligerence as its egotism.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Wolff said Xi may not be ready to take Taiwan by force yet as there are other hotspots in the South China Sea where the U.S. potentially would be obliged to intervene against Chinese belligerence, such as the Philippines.
—John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belligerence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belligerence
Noun
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On the other hand, a sales executive role emphasizes influence and communication, making manipulative tactics, aggression and toxic humor as more concerning.—
Darrin Lipscomb,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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The statistics — more passes, more involvement in build-up, better aerial aggression — reinforce what the eye test shows.—
Matt Pyzdrowski,
New York Times,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The conflict sparked an international diplomatic scramble to stop hostilities between two nuclear armed powers escalating further.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
21 Aug. 2025
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According to this view, Jews who reject Zionism are only rejecting themselves, while hostility to Zionism is nothing more than hostility toward Jews—that is, anti-Semitism.—
Daniel May,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Belligerence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belligerence. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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