as in belligerent
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trigger-happy
We should be asked how our youth retain the impulse to be free when trigger-happy Israeli soldiers and snipers are ordered to kill unarmed children demanding their human rights.
—
Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
The fifth pick in the 2025 draft has shown flashes as a scorer and pull-up shooter and has surprised many with his ability to make quick-decision passes, something that wasn’t exactly a feature of his game in his one trigger-happy season at Rutgers.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for trigger-happy
Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
The fifth pick in the 2025 draft has shown flashes as a scorer and pull-up shooter and has surprised many with his ability to make quick-decision passes, something that wasn’t exactly a feature of his game in his one trigger-happy season at Rutgers.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for trigger-happy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trigger-happy
Adjective
-
Athens was a belligerent city-state that fell victim to its own aggressions.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
Instead, the ideologues of Russian imperialism have turned to random musings and belligerent hate speech, which seems intended to confuse rather than convince.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
He was known as a pugnacious investigator who had dismantled some of the country’s most violent gangs.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
-
The narrator’s family has moved to an affluent part of Bengaluru, and their attempts to head off meddling outsiders are at times subtle, at times pugnacious, but always hilarious.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
But the Taiwanese government has pointed out Beijing’s increasingly bellicose behavior in the Taiwan Strait, including regular military operations around Taiwan in the past several years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
-
Tate’s most bellicose advocate was Joseph McBride, a lawyer who’d made his name defending several January 6th rioters.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Their energy is heavy and combative, so much so with Shamea that Cynthia tries to orchestrate a come-to-Jesus moment at Lake Bailey.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
-
The veteran journalist also offered insight into why Trump continues to grant her interviews despite their often combative exchanges.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
One of the world’s most cooperative mammals is also one of its most warlike.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
8 May 2026
-
Ludwig’s distant paternal ancestors were in fact German Jewish merchants, not warlike princes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Grey-zone tactics refer to a range of aggressive tactics that vary from navy ship patrols to drone flights, but fall short of direct combat.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 June 2026
-
That will be decided in the coming hours, as the Heat remains in aggressive pursuit of a trade for Antetokounmpo.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
The interim deal is meant to stop fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon where Israeli forces are battling the militant Hezbollah group.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
-
Despite an October ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hamas, the enclave has seen near-daily Israeli attacks that have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
Darren McCarty, a truculent member of the Red Wings who had multiple fights with Lemieux, posted a broken heart emoji on social media and heard the news from Draper.—
Stephen Whyno,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
-
New York Rangers, 33-37-9 Last week: 29 Sean: 30 Dom: 28 Brian Burke Honorary Truck: Most truculent team The Rangers have thrown more hits than any team in the league.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trigger-happy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trigger-happy. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
