as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
the player became quite belligerent and was thrown out of the game
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in combatant
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of belligerent
Omar Al-Ubaydli, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Social deficits can manifest as belligerent or meek.
—Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belligerent
Adjective
This significantly decreases the likelihood of collateral damage on the forces deployed by a security guarantor, allowing that partner to be a neutral and idle spectator rather than an active belligerent.
—Omar Al-Ubaydli, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
Abram told The Arizona Republic that Merrill was belligerent and had shoved him the day before.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Social deficits can manifest as belligerent or meek.
—Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belligerent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belligerent
Adjective
-
The Dallas Cowboys and team owner Jerry Jones have been very interested in the idea of getting aggressive ahead of the upcoming NFL trade deadline.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Unlike their alligator cousins, which are known to occasionally attack people, American crocodiles are shyer and less aggressive.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Above the surface, the navy has 122 surface combatants, which include 11 aircraft carriers, 11 cruisers and 74 destroyers.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Across the world, for all military battles where such data is available, the average army kills nine enemy non-combatants for every fighter killed.—
Oded J K Faran,
Oc Register,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In the militant revanche of the late Putin era, men are men, women are women, and the men are in charge.—
Julia Ioffe,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Pakistan has long accused Kabul of harboring the Pakistani Taliban militant group (known as the TTP), which its Afghan namesake denies.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The covers of her upcoming albums depict Pausini as a warrior in silver clothing on the Italian album, and in a light, veiled dress on the Spanish version.—
Natalia Cano,
Billboard,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Likewise, Carr’s credentials will be examined in detail against a pass rush that’s earned the Trojans their warrior reputation this term.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The mob of rioters grew more hostile and violent, advancing toward agents and began throwing rocks and other objects at agents, including one that struck Chief Greg Bovino in the head.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Afghan refugees like him await their asylum decisions in an increasingly hostile climate marked by ICE raids and deportations.—
Vidushi Mishti Sharma,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The agreement requires Thailand to release 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner and for both countries to begin removing heavy weapons from the border.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 2025
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Even then, getting the stories of the rank-and-file soldiers can be a challenge.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
West Memphis police took over the pursuit with assistance from state troopers, the release says.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Lichtman previously said Mascia was suffering from an undiagnosed mental health problem at the time of the shooting and that the former trooper has been undergoing treatment.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The manpower shortages compelled the War Department not only to rethink its policy of barring Black GIs from combat, but to cut back the number of servicemen stationed stateside, retaining only those disqualified for overseas duty by age or physical condition.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
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Unverified image of a Russian serviceman holding a Ukrainian Baba Yaga drone on August 6, 2024.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Belligerent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belligerent. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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