as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
the dominant male wolf was able to withstand the belligerence of younger challengers
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 belligerence
Emboldened by four years of appeasement policies, the CCP is on the march — escalating its military activities, conducting aggressive drills around Taiwan, and increasing its belligerence in the South China Sea.
—
Arthur Herman, National Review, 3 Apr. 2025
The country has swung wildly in its hawkishness, from the isolationism of the 1930s to the belligerence of the early 1980s.
—Alexandra Chinchilla, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2025
This is why Australian leaders have focused on the lack of notice rather than accusations of Beijing's belligerence.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
What To Know There have been tensions over NATO accusing Russia of sabotaging vessels in the Baltic Sea and claims of hybrid warfare around what is dubbed the NATO Lake as the alliance's members move to combat Moscow's belligerence in the region.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belligerence
Arthur Herman, National Review, 3 Apr. 2025
The country has swung wildly in its hawkishness, from the isolationism of the 1930s to the belligerence of the early 1980s.
—Alexandra Chinchilla, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2025
This is why Australian leaders have focused on the lack of notice rather than accusations of Beijing's belligerence.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
What To Know There have been tensions over NATO accusing Russia of sabotaging vessels in the Baltic Sea and claims of hybrid warfare around what is dubbed the NATO Lake as the alliance's members move to combat Moscow's belligerence in the region.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belligerence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belligerence
Noun
-
The Russian president has unilaterally declared a three-day ceasefire over the course of the Victory Day celebrations, which will be a key propaganda event for the Kremlin in light of its aggression in Ukraine.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
-
The early stages of the war revealed how a lack of preparedness left many nations vulnerable to aggression.—
Lt. General Leon Scott Rice,
Boston Herald,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
Ultimately, restrictions on vacant CPS property sales are part of a broader problem, and that’s education officials’ open hostility toward alternative education models.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2025
-
Then a decade of talks crashed into President Trump’s hostility toward Canada.—
Karen Weise,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Belligerence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belligerence. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share