belligerence

noun

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

-ˈlij-

: 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.

Synonyms

• aggression
• aggressiveness
• assaultiveness
• bellicosity
• belligerency
• combativeness
• contentiousness
• defiance
• disputatiousness
• feistiness
• fight
• militance
• militancy
• militantness
• pugnacity
• quarrelsomeness
• scrappiness
• truculence

Examples of belligerence in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Applying excessive pressure to Kyiv while going soft on Moscow undermines the possibility of a long-term settlement that could deter further Russian belligerence. —Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2025

This is why Australian leaders have focused on the lack of notice rather than accusations of Beijing's belligerence. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025

Once healthy, Marchand should be a seamless fit alongside Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett and a championship roster overflowing with belligerence. —Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025

Beijing’s belligerence should help the Pentagon keep stitching together tighter security relationships—and perhaps establish more military basing opportunities—in the Indo-Pacific. —Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see belligerent

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

belligerence

noun

bel·​lig·​er·​ence bə-ˈlij(-ə)-rən(t)s 

: a belligerent attitude or disposition