Definition of BELLIGERENT (original) (raw)
1
: inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness
2
: waging war
specifically : belonging to or recognized as a state at war and protected by and subject to the laws of war
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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.
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for belligerent
bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.
a drunk in a bellicose mood
pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.
quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.
the heat made us all quarrelsome
contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.
wearied by his contentious disposition
Examples of belligerent in a Sentence
… it took very little alcohol to make him belligerent, and he became even more thuggish and incoherent when he threw in a few sleeping pills as well. —
Christopher Hitchens, New York Times Book Review, 8 Oct. 2000 Coots are belligerent, territorial, quick-tempered birds. Nothing irritates a coot like another coot … —Kenneth Brower, Smithsonian, December 1998 Instead, we revered the guys on the streets, the thugs who were brazen and belligerent. They wore their hats backwards, left their belt buckles unfastened and shoelaces untied. —Nathan McCall, Washington Post, 25-31 Mar. 1991 She was a brigantine, a small two-masted vessel, refitted for belligerent action in the newly created American Navy. —Barbara W. Tuchman, The First Salute, 1988
He was drunk and belligerent. the player became quite belligerent and was thrown out of the game
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Another factor was his penetrating interviewing style, which was forceful without being belligerent. —Carmel Dagan, Variety, 19 Aug. 2024 He is also recognized as Jerry Grant — Fitz's (Tony Goldwyn) controlling and belligerent father — on Scandal. —Dylan Kickham, EW.com, 23 Oct. 2024 Baker tours the ramshackle, bilingual American dream of ethnic rivalries between Russians and Armenians and belligerent working-class youths addicted to sneakers and video games. —Armond White, National Review, 18 Oct. 2024 Mars picks up the belligerent energy and attacks poor little Chiron. —Jennifer Culp, Them, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for belligerent 
Word History
Etymology
modification of Latin belligerant-, belligerans, present participle of belligerare to wage war, from belliger waging war, from bellum war + gerere to wage
First Known Use
1577, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of belligerent was in 1577
Dictionary Entries Near belligerent
Cite this Entry
“Belligerent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belligerent. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.
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Last Updated: 7 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences
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