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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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
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2026
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
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
The opening of negotiations with the Lebanese government, which is not a belligerent in the conflict, will not immediately affect fighting against Hezbollah.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for belligerent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belligerent
Adjective
-
Paolo Banchero set the tone early with an aggressive, assertive first half that dictated the flow of the game.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Many were acquired between 2019 and 2022 at elevated valuations and financed with aggressive leverage, assumptions that are now being tested in a higher-rate environment.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Schuster said, like any enemy combatant or materials seized from an enemy in the course of armed conflict.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Lebanese officials say more than 180 people killed were children, but have not said how many killed were combatants.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Both President Emmanual Macron and the UNIFIL force blamed Hezbollah, but the militant group denied involvement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon against the militant group Hezbollah, who are close allies of Iran, has been a sticking point in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The industry first broke into my social circle, in Shanghai, in January, when a German filmmaker friend was hired to join a set in Xi’an, the ancient capital known for its terra-cotta warriors.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Even Dan Patrick, hardly a culture warrior, argued that point last year.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On Tuesday a civil jury concluded that Lodes resigned involuntarily due to his reporting of a hostile workplace and was awarded the multimillion-dollar payment as compensation for his emotional damages.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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The lawsuit claims Mavromatis experienced retaliatory consequences for raising concerns about the harassment and hostile work environment.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One of the soldiers is also accused of transferring to an Iranian foreign agent materials from his military training related to fighter jet systems, as well as documentation of facilities and areas within a military base.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Through a detailed examination of footage posted by Israeli soldiers themselves, the film documents potential war crimes, including civilian casualties, torture, and destruction of infrastructure, delivering unprecedented accountability and real-time evidence.—
Patrick Hipes,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Three Georgia State Patrol troopers and their supervisor were fired from the department after an investigation revealed a scheme where officers used insurance claims to profit off of vehicle chases, an internal report concluded.—
Asia Simone Burns,
AJC.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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Police also handed out 100 traffic citations over the three-day span, with 49 issued by Tybee Island officers and 51 by state troopers.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
20 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
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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 27 Apr. 2026.
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