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
Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Concluding that Flanagan isn’t going to leave on her own, police put the belligerent prosecutor in handcuffs.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2025
This arouses the ire of the town’s belligerent sheriff (Colin Hanks, playing against type) and crooked theme park owner (John Ortiz) who decide to get revenge on the apparent family man causing them trouble.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
Being caught between a belligerent and unrestrained nuclear power (Israel) and a hostile neighbor (Iran) severely undercuts Gulf visions of national development and global interconnectedness.
—Hasan T. Alhasan, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belligerent
Noun
Social deficits can manifest as belligerent or meek.
—Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Concluding that Flanagan isn’t going to leave on her own, police put the belligerent prosecutor in handcuffs.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2025
This arouses the ire of the town’s belligerent sheriff (Colin Hanks, playing against type) and crooked theme park owner (John Ortiz) who decide to get revenge on the apparent family man causing them trouble.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
Being caught between a belligerent and unrestrained nuclear power (Israel) and a hostile neighbor (Iran) severely undercuts Gulf visions of national development and global interconnectedness.
—Hasan T. Alhasan, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belligerent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belligerent
Adjective
-
Mid-summer changes to United’s revolving credit facility indicated a switch in strategy, and there was a more aggressive approach in the market following a summit in Iceland between Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The occurrences grew more aggressive over time, with the Smurls' 75-pound German shepherd getting slammed into a wall and Jack getting attacked while praying.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ejections ensued for Freeland and Giants third baseman and shortstop Matt Chapman and Willy Adames, the most physical combatants in the skirmish.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, after fighters from Hamas, the Palestinian militant group in control of the territory, attacked Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages.—
Stephanie van den Berg,
USA Today,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The military that took over Burkina Faso in a 2022 coup has grown increasingly intolerant of dissent amid worsening Islamist militant violence in the West African country.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
How segments of Christianity overlap with the manosphere The manosphere — a movement encompassing hypermasculinity, male supremacy, misogyny and traditional gender roles and driven by podcasters, bloggers and social media warriors — has become increasingly mainstream.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
-
With vocals and synths inspired by Celtic traditions and bagpipes, Griffin uses a sword, the Scottish Claymore, as a personal logo symbolizing resilience and the warrior spirit.—
Nadja Sayej,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump has been hostile to renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, and prioritizes fossil fuels for electricity.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter took it as a hostile act and approached Prescott, meeting face-to-face with him.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
To maintain tanks’ relevance, Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have covered them in different configurations of armor as ad hoc solutions to rapidly shifting tactics.—
Marco Hernandez,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed soldiers had been sent to the area, per the BBC.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Though Smith was charged with four counts of assault for scaring and endangering the villagers, troopers did not say he was involved in his mother’s death.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
-
But a federal judge ruled against the police agency, concluding there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial — including a neighbor's cell phone video that captured a trooper punching the man in the face and slamming him to the ground.—
Tresa Baldas,
Freep.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Unverified image of a Russian serviceman holding a Ukrainian Baba Yaga drone on August 6, 2024.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
-
As an 18-year-old serviceman Spurgeon was old enough to marry.—
Maggie Menderski,
The Courier-Journal,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Belligerent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belligerent. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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