as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
the player became quite belligerent and was thrown out of the game
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in combatant
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of belligerent
Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Social deficits can manifest as belligerent or meek.
—Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Concluding that Flanagan isn’t going to leave on her own, police put the belligerent prosecutor in handcuffs.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2025
This arouses the ire of the town’s belligerent sheriff (Colin Hanks, playing against type) and crooked theme park owner (John Ortiz) who decide to get revenge on the apparent family man causing them trouble.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belligerent
Noun
Abram told The Arizona Republic that Merrill was belligerent and had shoved him the day before.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Social deficits can manifest as belligerent or meek.
—Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Concluding that Flanagan isn’t going to leave on her own, police put the belligerent prosecutor in handcuffs.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2025
This arouses the ire of the town’s belligerent sheriff (Colin Hanks, playing against type) and crooked theme park owner (John Ortiz) who decide to get revenge on the apparent family man causing them trouble.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belligerent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belligerent
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
The tally does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
19 Sep. 2025
-
These figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
Fallen warriors gather in Odin’s hall, Valhalla.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
This requires a lethal, agile, and forward deployed force—anchored by the warrior ethos and ready to defend our nation and its interests at a moment's notice.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
The Guard may have worn out its welcome, but soldiers were still assigned to the region.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The Netzah Yehuda Battalion, formerly Nahal Haredi, enables Haredi men to serve as combat soldiers while observing strict religious practices.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The two children are allegedly Scott's half-siblings Fox13 Salt Lake City reported, citing troopers.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Lee also authorized more than 100 Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers to help local law enforcement in Shelby County.—
Asher Redd,
FOXNews.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Unverified image of a Russian serviceman holding a Ukrainian Baba Yaga drone on August 6, 2024.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The home had been loaned to the federal government's United Service Organization (U.S.O.) to serve as a hub of entertainment for the servicemen and women who were training at the nearby U.S. Naval Air Station Grosse Ile, which operated from 1927-1969 as a flight-training base.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
Freep.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Belligerent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belligerent. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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