Synonyms of warlike

warlike

adjective

ˈwȯr-ˌlīk 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aggressive
• militant
• hostile
• bellicose
• contentious
• assaultive
• belligerent
• irritable
• combative
• pugnacious
• confrontational
• acidic
• fierce
• ugly
• quarrelsome
• savage
• agonistic
• feisty
• truculent
• gladiatorial
• argumentative
• vicious
• disputatious
• discordant
• scrappy
• chippy
• rude
• antagonistic
• on the warpath
• brawly
• fighting
• warring
• cross
• disagreeable
• peevish
• fretful
• petulant
• irascible
• choleric
• bilious
• querulous
• dyspeptic
• fractious
• ornery
• hot-tempered
• waspish
• snappish
• pettish
• testy
• surly
• bristly
• grouchy
• battling
• grumpy
• touchy
• crabby
• ill-tempered
• ill-natured
• bearish
• huffy
• stroppy
• ill-humored
• cranky
• prickly
• snappy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peaceful
• peaceable
• nonaggressive
• pacific
• unwarlike
• pleasant
• benevolent
• friendly
• amiable
• conciliatory
• nonbelligerent
• gracious
• cordial
• genial
• good-natured
• sociable
• amicable
• uncontentious
• easygoing
• affable
• complaisant
• calm
• quiet
• uncombative
• ingratiating
• unbelligerent
• kindhearted
• antimilitarist
• obliging
• serene
• tranquil
• mild
• benign
• gentle
• relaxed
• anti-imperialist
• good-tempered
• kindly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of warlike

Ludwig’s distant paternal ancestors were in fact German Jewish merchants, not warlike princes. — Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025

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

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