1
as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
a congenital truculence that resulted in his spending a significant amount of time in the principal's office
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
the sergeant's truculence was revealed when she made the recruits run even further in the heat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of truculence
Trump’s truculence has infuriated many Canadians, leading many to cancel U.S. vacations, refuse to buy American goods and possibly even vote early.
—
Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Frederic could be a fallback third-line centre option if the Leafs can’t get someone better (like Coyle), or support otherwise — truculence and scoring — on the wing.
—Jonas Siegel, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Other international powers are showing even less patience for Israeli truculence.
—Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
Government regulation had to be escalated and hundreds of lawsuits had to be filed before the company’s truculence was overcome.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 9 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for truculence
Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Frederic could be a fallback third-line centre option if the Leafs can’t get someone better (like Coyle), or support otherwise — truculence and scoring — on the wing.
—Jonas Siegel, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Other international powers are showing even less patience for Israeli truculence.
—Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
Government regulation had to be escalated and hundreds of lawsuits had to be filed before the company’s truculence was overcome.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 9 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for truculence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for truculence
Noun
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Her previous visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead, including war criminals, have drawn criticism from China and South Korea, which see the site as a symbol of Tokyo’s wartime aggression.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
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Bronstein, her every utterance brimming with deadpan passive-aggression, was shrewd to cast herself as one of Linda’s many antagonists.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Also on Sunday, Jacqueline’s aunt, Jackelyn Garcia, 28, was arrested and charged with intentional cruelty to a child under the age of 19, risk of injury to a child and first-degree unlawful restraint.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
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Other scary asylum stories highlighted a fear of institutional cruelty — of authority figures with total power over vulnerable patients.—
Jen Rose Smith,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Thursday, the Red Wings managed to play smart hockey without sacrificing their aggressiveness.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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Yet despite the cancer's aggressiveness, its hormone-sensitive nature offers a viable treatment pathway, according to the National Cancer Institute.—
Molly Nagle,
ABC News,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The hard-hitting police brutality drama was released in 2018 simultaneously in Italian cinemas and on Netflix, sparking controversy from distributors in Italy who clamored for a theatrical window.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
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Courts have sometimes concluded the government's conduct was outrageous when police have used brutality against a defendant or government agents entrapped a defendant.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Tel Aviv activists hold silent vigils mourning Gaza’s children, confronting public hostility with quiet resilience.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
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The end of hostilities could also revive deals like a joint venture between BP and Abu Dhabi’s national oil company, which had been paused during the war.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Their act of defiance against gentrification becomes a bold expression of ingenious creativity.—
Beatrice Verhoeven,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
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While hilarious and adorable, owners with sassy dogs should ensure the behavior does not evolve into defiance or aggression.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Truculence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/truculence. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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