Synonyms of belligerency

belligerency

noun

bə-ˈlij-rən(t)-sē 

as in aggression

an inclination to fight or quarrel

an inveterate belligerency that needs to be addressed by classes in anger management

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aggression
• aggressiveness
• hostility
• defiance
• belligerence
• bellicosity
• fight
• pugnacity
• militancy
• militance
• combativeness
• assaultiveness
• contentiousness
• truculence
• feistiness
• scrappiness
• quarrelsomeness
• disputatiousness
• antagonism
• irritability
• chip on one's shoulder
• imperialism
• fierceness
• unfriendliness
• militarism
• militantness
• jingoism
• irritableness
• petulance
• rudeness
• disagreeableness
• peevishness
• surliness
• fractiousness
• irascibility
• hyperaggressiveness
• testiness
• querulousness
• crossness
• grumpiness
• fretfulness
• crankiness
• orneriness
• biliousness
• grouchiness
• acidity
• pettishness
• captiousness
• waspishness
• huffiness
• irascibleness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pacifism
• nonaggression
• benevolence
• friendliness
• cordiality
• sociability
• antimilitarism
• gentleness
• amiability
• affability
• geniality
• pleasantness
• graciousness
• kindliness
• mildness
• complaisance
• anti-imperialism
• amicability
• antiaggression
• amenability
• placability

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of belligerency

Contrary to former President Joe Biden, our co-belligerency is not to make Ukraine safe for democracy. — Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2025

Furthermore, pursuant to Additional Protocol I, Article 47(1), mercenaries do not qualify as combatants, and as such, cannot benefit from the privilege of belligerency. — Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 12 June 2022

So all you're left with was this over the top belligerency of the president, which didn't go over well with people. — NBC News, 4 Oct. 2020

This is also the right time to demonstrate to North Korea that we will not be intimidated or blackmailed by Pyongyang's belligerency. — chicagotribune.com, 6 Sep. 2017