Belligerent
adjective
Someone who is aggressive and likes arguing.
He was in a belligerent mood, arguing with everyone at the party.
Often appears as...
- belligerent mood
- become belligerent
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A country or person engaged in war or conflict.
The belligerents in the conflict have agreed to a ceasefire.
Often appears as...
- between belligerents
- belligerent countries
Usage tips
Formal, Neutral
Academic
adjective
Someone who is aggressive and likes arguing.
He was in a belligerent mood, arguing with everyone at the party.
Often appears as...
- belligerent mood
- become belligerent
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A country or person engaged in war or conflict.
The belligerents in the conflict have agreed to a ceasefire.
Often appears as...
- between belligerents
- belligerent countries
Usage tips
Formal, Neutral
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Implies disapproval of the aggressive behaviour, often viewed negatively by others.
Her belligerent attitude during the debate cost her many supporters.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotionally Charged
Carries an emotional weight that suggests anger or hostility, rather than calm disagreement.
The belligerent fan was escorted out of the stadium for causing a scene.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Physical
Can refer to verbal aggression or a confrontational attitude, not just physical acts.
His belligerent remarks made the discussion turn into an argument.
Compare with
aggressivebellicosecombativeconfrontationalcontentioushostilepugnaciousquarrelsometruculent
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Video examples
The Crime-Fighting Power...
I want to share something personal with you. Last year I moved to Ukraine because Kloop planned to start a new regional media project there, and we are now forced to do it in another country because this man was belligerent enough to invade Ukraine, the country that became my second home.
Video examples
Rosalind Franklin: DNA's...
or that she was a plain-dressing, belligerent scientist, which is how Watson actually described her in "The Double Helix." But thanks to Franklin's biographers, who investigated her life and interviewed many people close to her,
Video examples
How Do Dogs Make...
other but size isn't everything it's about confidence and posturing too as this belligerent Bulldog knows the young labrador uses a trick she learnt in play
Video examples
The Crime-Fighting Power...
I want to share something personal with you. Last year I moved to Ukraine because Kloop planned to start a new regional media project there, and we are now forced to do it in another country because this man was belligerent enough to invade Ukraine, the country that became my second home.
Video examples
Rosalind Franklin: DNA's...
or that she was a plain-dressing, belligerent scientist, which is how Watson actually described her in "The Double Helix." But thanks to Franklin's biographers, who investigated her life and interviewed many people close to her,
Video examples
How Do Dogs Make...
other but size isn't everything it's about confidence and posturing too as this belligerent Bulldog knows the young labrador uses a trick she learnt in play
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Greg Boyle
American Clergyman
You stand with the least likely to succeed until success is succeeded by something more valuable: kinship. You stand with the belligerent, the surly and the badly behaved until bad behavior is recognized for the language it is: the vocabulary of the deeply wounded and of those whose burdens are more than they can bear.
Quote examples
Douglas Adams
English Writer
Every country is like a particular type of person. America is like a belligerent, adolescent boy; Canada is like an intelligent, 35-year-old woman. Australia is like Jack Nicholson. It comes right up to you and laughs very hard in your face in a highly threatening and engaging manner.
Quote examples
Elmer Davis
American Journalist
This nation has given the world an object lesson in the whole duty of neutrals, which is to furnish an outlet for the wrath of a belligerent who is annoyed because he cannot defeat his opponent.
Quote examples
Eamon de Valera
Irish Statesman
We are fully aware that, in a world at war, each set of belligerents is over ready to regard those who are not with them as against them; but the course we have followed is a just course.
Quote examples
Gerrit Smith
American Politician
The only ground on which a neutral State can claim respect at the hands of belligerents is, that, so far as she is concerned, their rights are protected.
Quote examples
Aung San Suu Kyi
Burmese Activist
Peace as a goal is an ideal which will not be contested by any government or nation, not even the most belligerent.
Quote examples
Gene Tunney
American Athlete
Though I was not a belligerent kid, I do not think I ever passed up a good opportunity to fight.
Quote examples
Gore Vidal
American Novelist
I think I have a normal threshold of anger, but it's true that I am, by nature, belligerent.
Quote examples
Russell Brand
English Comedian
Strength does not have to be belligerent and loud.
Quote examples
Ian Hart
English Actor
I'm belligerent rather than ambitious.
Quote examples
Greg Boyle
American Clergyman
You stand with the least likely to succeed until success is succeeded by something more valuable: kinship. You stand with the belligerent, the surly and the badly behaved until bad behavior is recognized for the language it is: the vocabulary of the deeply wounded and of those whose burdens are more than they can bear.
Quote examples
Douglas Adams
English Writer
Every country is like a particular type of person. America is like a belligerent, adolescent boy; Canada is like an intelligent, 35-year-old woman. Australia is like Jack Nicholson. It comes right up to you and laughs very hard in your face in a highly threatening and engaging manner.
Quote examples
Elmer Davis
American Journalist
This nation has given the world an object lesson in the whole duty of neutrals, which is to furnish an outlet for the wrath of a belligerent who is annoyed because he cannot defeat his opponent.
Quote examples
Eamon de Valera
Irish Statesman
We are fully aware that, in a world at war, each set of belligerents is over ready to regard those who are not with them as against them; but the course we have followed is a just course.
Quote examples
Gerrit Smith
American Politician
The only ground on which a neutral State can claim respect at the hands of belligerents is, that, so far as she is concerned, their rights are protected.
Quote examples
Aung San Suu Kyi
Burmese Activist
Peace as a goal is an ideal which will not be contested by any government or nation, not even the most belligerent.
Quote examples
Gene Tunney
American Athlete
Though I was not a belligerent kid, I do not think I ever passed up a good opportunity to fight.
Quote examples
Gore Vidal
American Novelist
I think I have a normal threshold of anger, but it's true that I am, by nature, belligerent.
Quote examples
Russell Brand
English Comedian
Strength does not have to be belligerent and loud.
Quote examples
Ian Hart
English Actor
I'm belligerent rather than ambitious.
Example 1 of 10
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