as in belligerent
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Recent Examples of trigger-happy
The Iranian government has long maintained a rather trigger-happy approach to censorship, to put it mildly.
—
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
On one hand, some argue that Good was attempting to leave the scene, and a trigger-happy ICE agent fired his weapon at her, an abuse of authority.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Behind the decks, a mischievous, trigger-happy DJ Próvaí occasionally came in a beat too early, adding an air of levity to the occasion.
—Sophie Williams, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2025
As Wallace and Gromit investigate this mysterious thief, their paths cross with the cruel, trigger-happy Lord Victor Quartermaine (Ralph Fiennes), who has his own ambitions for the competition and Wallace’s love interest, Lady Tottington (Helena Bonham Carter).
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trigger-happy
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
On one hand, some argue that Good was attempting to leave the scene, and a trigger-happy ICE agent fired his weapon at her, an abuse of authority.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Behind the decks, a mischievous, trigger-happy DJ Próvaí occasionally came in a beat too early, adding an air of levity to the occasion.
—Sophie Williams, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2025
As Wallace and Gromit investigate this mysterious thief, their paths cross with the cruel, trigger-happy Lord Victor Quartermaine (Ralph Fiennes), who has his own ambitions for the competition and Wallace’s love interest, Lady Tottington (Helena Bonham Carter).
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trigger-happy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trigger-happy
Adjective
-
Noem and her staff were belligerent toward Democrats and also toward reporters, many of whom were skeptical of their methods and claims.—
Nick Miroff,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
If anything, the regime is more defiant, belligerent, and brazen, determined to prevail at any cost.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The critics are not kind to him in either performance, but Scorsese is impressed with his work ethic and pugnacious attitude.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The flag-waving, the face paint, the pugnacious songs, the banners, the bellicose taunts at the opponents, the arms flung out in unison foster a collective spirit that can turn violent at times.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s bellicose and vengeful rhetoric describing the military’s war in Iran grew out of his experience in Iraq.—
Patricia Cohen Michael Crowley John Ismay David M. Halbfinger,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Within the first few weeks of his administration, President Joe Biden launched a reset with the Houthis and pressured the Saudis to end the war against the bellicose Houthi movement.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Those who like combative, left-leaning leaders might cast their votes for one of these two Washington vets.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Your 12th House of Inner Worlds hums as the Moon grumbles at combative Mars in your philosophical 9th house, making private worries flare when big debates start circling.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Ludwig’s distant paternal ancestors were in fact German Jewish merchants, not warlike princes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
To many Chicagoans, the warlike atmosphere is the result of the increasing aggression of the federal government.—
Geraldo Cadava,
New Yorker,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Family questions police response Sye's other sister told CBS New Baltimore that the officers were too aggressive in their response.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Your 6th House of Health tightens under pressure as the unconscious Moon squares aggressive Mars, presently in your 3rd House of Dialogue, so timing and tone carry extra weight.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In Lebanon, where Israel has started an invasion in the south while targeting the Hezbollah militant group, officials said more than 1,100 people have been killed in the country since the start of the war.—
Sam Metz,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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He was killed in southern Lebanon, a stronghold of the militant group Hezbollah, as Israel expands an invasion there.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Netflix co-CEO was asked about Trump’s truculent order during a wide-ranging interview which dug into the platform’s battle to acquire Warner Bros Discovery in the face of a hostile counter bid by Paramount Skydance as well as the streamer’s place in the UK film and TV landscape.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2026
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The robot interpreted the command using an LLM and walked over to a corner of the office in a manner not unlike a truculent 9-year-old.—
Will Knight,
Wired News,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trigger-happy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trigger-happy. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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