as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
the dominant male wolf was able to withstand the belligerence of younger challengers
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of belligerence
The story goes that the Roman god Saturn, fed up with human belligerence, threw a thunderbolt that split the earth open and created a crater from which sprang miraculous, calming water.
—
Chiara Barzini,
Vogue,
23 Apr. 2026
Indeed, with Iran’s refusal to end hostilities on unfavorable terms and willingness to fight to the end, alongside Israel’s belligerence and desire to disintegrate the Iranian state, risks of further escalation remain.
—
Alexander Langlois,
Oc Register,
22 Apr. 2026
From top to bottom, this administration embodies the perversity, ignorance and belligerence of its leader.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
This family's nonstop antisocial behavior and mindless belligerence and myopic priorities are toxic to me.
—
Kimi Robinson,
USA Today,
13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for belligerence
Chiara Barzini,
Vogue,
23 Apr. 2026
Indeed, with Iran’s refusal to end hostilities on unfavorable terms and willingness to fight to the end, alongside Israel’s belligerence and desire to disintegrate the Iranian state, risks of further escalation remain.
—
Alexander Langlois,
Oc Register,
22 Apr. 2026
From top to bottom, this administration embodies the perversity, ignorance and belligerence of its leader.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
This family's nonstop antisocial behavior and mindless belligerence and myopic priorities are toxic to me.
—
Kimi Robinson,
USA Today,
13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for belligerence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belligerence
Noun
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Ukraine has every right to attack Russia’s military infrastructure that sustains its aggression.
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Issues could include insomnia, aggression, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to psychotropic medication and exacerbation of existing mental illness -- like anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.
Noun
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Dillon Thieneman’s speed Since draft night in April, Thieneman has been lauded for his combination of speed, instincts and aggressiveness.
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This is a lineup structured to thrive with a small-ball approach — high batting average, chaos and aggressiveness on the basepaths, and manufacturing runs.
Noun
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Engelbert has consistently mismanaged the overt physical hostility directed at the league's biggest star.
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Today, however, some experts suggest that explicit displays of racial hostility have become more visible in public spaces.
Cite this Entry
“Belligerence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belligerence. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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