as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
a seafarer's legend that the remote island was inhabited by a warlike and uncivilized tribe
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Recent Examples of warlike
His warlike actions in Iran, despite campaign promises to the contrary, blatantly bypassed the need to gain approval from the legislative branch of government.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2025
The bottom line: Bipartisanship is the most obvious casualty of Schumer's new warlike posture toward the GOP.
—Hans Nichols, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025
Freyja, however, is a more warlike goddess, and even has a part in selecting warriors for her hall in the afterlife.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
The Coming Economic Crisis Outwardly, many Russians seem to support the Kremlin’s warlike stance toward the West.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 9 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for warlike
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2025
The bottom line: Bipartisanship is the most obvious casualty of Schumer's new warlike posture toward the GOP.
—Hans Nichols, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025
Freyja, however, is a more warlike goddess, and even has a part in selecting warriors for her hall in the afterlife.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
The Coming Economic Crisis Outwardly, many Russians seem to support the Kremlin’s warlike stance toward the West.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 9 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for warlike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warlike
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
-
But if his intention is a quick rate cut, the new chairman might be entering a hostile work environment.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
-
French, American, British and other naval crews already have experience of escorting civilian ships through hostile fire in the region.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Warlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warlike. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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