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
-
In 2018, mixed martial-arts champion Matt Serra was having a family meal in a restaurant when a belligerent drunken man entered, threatening servers and patrons.—
Timothy J. Pawl,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2026
-
However, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka was confident to chase under overcast conditions after beating Australia earlier in a group match when opening batter Pathum Nissanka scored a belligerent century.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
-
Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg made an extended, pugnacious appearance in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, defending his company from the witness stand against a lawsuit that alleges social media harms children.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
His views are too inconsistent, his instincts too fundamentally bellicose.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
So protesting its bellicose whirl / Is hardly dishonoring him / When Israel’s onslaught is grim.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Earlier in the night, the combative progressive suggested the results would not be known until Wednesday or later after the Texas Supreme Court blocked a Dallas judge who ordered polls to stay open two extra hours after complaints from voters who were turned away.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
-
This seems a little combative, which is understandable.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
4 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
-
While investors had broadly praised Abel's first annual shareholder letter for reaffirming Berkshire's long-standing culture of financial strength and disciplined investing, some had hoped for more aggressive signals on capital deployment given the company's swelling cash balance.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
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Continue reading … CROSSING A LINE — JFK's grandson defends 'aggressive' posts about Vance's wife.—
,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Frontiers are already porous here, crossed by smuggling routes, refugee trails and militant hideouts.—
Mihir Sharma,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, known as Islamic State West Africa Province.—
Dyepkazah Shibayan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
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Even if the administration has no further military designs on the Western Hemisphere, a virtual sword of Damocles hangs over the head of truculent governments.—
Richard Fontaine,
The Atlantic,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trigger-happy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trigger-happy. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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