as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
the player became quite belligerent and was thrown out of the game
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in combatant
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of belligerent
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
After his brother Raúl Castro took power and eased travel restrictions in 2013, that image faded somewhat, though Cuban leaders are still belligerent in particular about the Cuban-American community in South Florida, which has through the years vocally opposed communism on the island.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for belligerent
Adjective
But a newsroom town hall to address questions was marked by what staffers described as belligerent and combative statements.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
After his brother Raúl Castro took power and eased travel restrictions in 2013, that image faded somewhat, though Cuban leaders are still belligerent in particular about the Cuban-American community in South Florida, which has through the years vocally opposed communism on the island.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
Qatar, host of the US’s Al Udeid Air Base, is effectively a belligerent of Iran, meaning that until hostilities cease, that helium isn’t getting through.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for belligerent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belligerent
Adjective
-
Orbán's nationalist party has become a model for MAGA populists, particularly for its aggressive stance on immigration.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Florian Wirtz was over aggressive in his initial press and then lacked urgency to help balance out City’s right-side overload, while neither Curtis Jones or Ryan Gravenberch drifted across.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The indictment alleged Smyles and Brooks allowed up to nine combatants to engage in fights that occurred at least five times over the six-month period.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The Chinese navy is the world’s largest by hull count, with a battle force of more than 370 ships and submarines and more than 140 major surface combatants.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But the response to Alcock in many online corners has been as if the actress went on a militant feminist rant slamming all male fans and threw a massive pity party for herself.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But the regime shows no sign of unraveling, and the people who have replaced senior leaders are known as equally hard-line or arguably even more militant than their predecessors, according to Western officials and experts on Iran.—
Abigail Williams,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Mortal Kombat 2 will focus on the Mortal Kombat tournament, the big battle in which warriors from different realms face off against one another in a fight to the bloody finish.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Cheek plates depict a warrior about to kill a sacrificial ram.—
Ryan Brennan
April 10,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Callers told police that after a brief and seemingly hostile interaction with the occupants of the vehicle, the individual left school property and was last seen walking onto Ryan Lane from Edwards Avenue.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
From a technical standpoint, the stock appears to be stabilizing at support just as the macro backdrop becomes less hostile to large-cap technology.—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Israeli military’s top general took swift action, suspending all operational activities of a reserve battalion involved in the detention of CNN’s team in the West Bank – including dismissing one soldier from military service.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
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Like his comic book backstory, Castle is a former soldier who goes on a revenge mission after his wife and children were murdered.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Two more passengers were taken to the hospital, one by helicopter and another by ambulance, troopers said.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Players create an agent who is among the first wave of Strategic Homeland Division troopers activated during the crisis.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Robert Roberts and his wife Iris White chronicle much, including Black servicemen who came back from the war with European brides.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
For much of the 20th century in the United States, tattoos were associated with rebellion and criminality — linked to prisoners, gangs and subcultures, as well as servicemen like sailors and soldiers.—
Panashe Matemba-Mutasa,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belligerent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belligerent. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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