as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
bellicose hockey players who seem to spend more time fighting than playing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bellicose
In 2017, the President returned from an impressively bellicose Bastille Day celebration in France determined to host his own version of a military parade.
—
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
Room for Disagreement There is a case that a less bellicose, less in-your-face flavour of DOGE could work better — and that such changes are easier when they’re not associated with a controversial figure.
—Jim Waterson, semafor.com, 6 June 2025
Courtesy of Derek Ouellette Trump's bellicose remarks gave a huge boost to Canadian nationalism, with many vowing to boycott the U.S. and its products.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 1 May 2025
The bellicose posture from a country considered Canada’s closest friend has unleashed a desire to stand up to the United States and a rallying-round-the-flag that has translated into a defiant patriotism.
—Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bellicose
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
Room for Disagreement There is a case that a less bellicose, less in-your-face flavour of DOGE could work better — and that such changes are easier when they’re not associated with a controversial figure.
—Jim Waterson, semafor.com, 6 June 2025
Courtesy of Derek Ouellette Trump's bellicose remarks gave a huge boost to Canadian nationalism, with many vowing to boycott the U.S. and its products.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 1 May 2025
The bellicose posture from a country considered Canada’s closest friend has unleashed a desire to stand up to the United States and a rallying-round-the-flag that has translated into a defiant patriotism.
—Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bellicose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellicose
Adjective
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Now and in the future In the early days of the Bowman era, the Oilers appear to be more aggressive in looking for talent.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
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First, assume that classification will be litigated if the arrangement is aggressive or if the borrower is thinly capitalized.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and led to 251 being abducted.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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Broader market reactions have been muted, barring brief spikes in oil prices when Israel entered direct confrontations with Hamas’ crude-rich patron Iran and with other of Tehran’s proxies, such as Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis.—
Ruxandra Iordache,Emma Graham,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The team's away record is also impressive, with two wins and one draw, showcasing its ability to perform under pressure in hostile environments.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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More than thirty signs referencing racial discrimination and the hostile attitudes of white people to those who were formerly enslaved will come down or be partially covered.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Medvedev, a former president of Russia and an ally of incumbent President Vladimir Putin, has been known to make belligerent comments against the West, which have likely been approved by the Kremlin.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Sep. 2025
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This Mary is horny, drunk, and completely belligerent about her dream of being a cabaret star.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, a warlike species would probably just wipe us out.—
Matthew Hutson,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Bellicose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellicose. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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