belligerence

noun

bel·lig·er·ence bə-ˈlij--ˈli-jə-rən(t)s

-ˈlij-

Synonyms of belligerence next

: an aggressive or truculent attitude, atmosphere, or disposition

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Belligerent, Belligerents, and Belligerence

Belligerent may function as either an adjective or a noun. As an adjective, it has two primary meanings, each of which corresponds to the two senses of its noun form.

The older sense (“waging war”) is generally used to refer to the actions or combatants of a nation at war, or to the nation itself ("belligerent operations"; "belligerent troops"; “the belligerent state”); it is paralleled by the earliest sense of the noun, “a nation at war” (“the belligerents assembled at the peace conference”). The second sense of belligerent (“inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness”), which usually applies to persons or animals, or to their attitudes or actions, likewise parallels the second sense of the noun (“a person taking part in a fight”). A related noun belligerence refers to “an aggressive or truculent attitude, atmosphere, or disposition” that can be either individual or global.

Examples of belligerence in a Sentence

the dominant male wolf was able to withstand the belligerence of younger challengers

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

But the long-term consequences of his economic belligerence have been largely negative for all involved. —

Jonathan Berkshire Miller, Foreign Affairs, 5 Feb. 2025 Perhaps for that reason, their remarks, made to largely friendly audiences, were couched in a tone of cautious belligerence. —

Alan Feuer, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025 Petro has deployed soldiers and humanitarian aid to the region in a bid to quell the belligerence that has claimed dozens of lives and displaced tens of thousands of residents. —

Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Jan. 2025 Meanwhile Hezbollah's constant attacks against Israel following the October 7 Hamas invasion caused Israel to consider terminating the agreements, but for all practical purposes that belligerence mainly brought resource development to a standstill. —

Daniel Markind, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for belligerence