as in belligerent
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Recent Examples of trigger-happy
Will Timberwolves president Tim Connelly, the famously trigger-happy former Nuggets GM, take another bold swing to get Anthony Edwards a point guard?
—
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2025
This ending would be shocking in any register, but the fact that Ben is the film’s sole Black character and that his would-be rescuers are an all-white posse of trigger-happy militiamen delivers a truly shattering blow.
—Adam Lowenstein, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2025
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
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2025
This ending would be shocking in any register, but the fact that Ben is the film’s sole Black character and that his would-be rescuers are an all-white posse of trigger-happy militiamen delivers a truly shattering blow.
—Adam Lowenstein, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2025
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
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But his belligerent foreign policy once again overshadowed his attempts at a cohesive economic message.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
21 Jan. 2026
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Lately, the president has revisited his preoccupation with annexing Greenland in an increasingly belligerent manner.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Williamson’s pugnacious lyrics are grounded in manual labor and local indignities, but Planet X’s malaise transcends any neighborhood or job site, toeing the line between angst and grievance.—
Pete Tosiello,
Pitchfork,
27 Jan. 2026
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Kimmel reasserted his place as the most pugnacious of the late-night hosts during his first week back.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Iranian foreign minister’s bellicose words should not be considered mere rhetoric, Vali Nasr, a professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, told us.—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
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Trump’s comments were the latest in a series of recent statements and moves by him and the White House that have sought to dial back his administration’s initially bellicose comments on Pretti’s killing on Saturday in Minneapolis.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Attorney General Pam Bondi sparred with Democrats about her year-long tenure at the Department of Justice, in a combative, hours-long hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
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Here are seven key takeaways from the combative hearing.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Ludwig’s distant paternal ancestors were in fact German Jewish merchants, not warlike princes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
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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
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In the meantime, an unstable government could become more rather than less aggressive, not least to keep younger hard-liners from rebelling.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
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Wiener helped push two new California laws last year — the No Secret Police Act and the No Vigilantes Act — in the wake of intense and aggressive immigration enforcement by masked ICE and other federal agents in California and around the country.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Although Pakistan's capital has seen relatively few attacks compared with other regions, the country has experienced a recent rise in militant violence.—
MUNIR AHMED,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
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Although Pakistan’s capital has seen relatively few attacks compared with other regions, the country has experienced a recent rise in militant violence.—
Munir Ahmed,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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 14 Feb. 2026.
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