BELLIGERENT Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'belligerent' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of belligerent are bellicose , contentious , pugnacious , and quarrelsome . While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities. // belligerent nations

Q: When would 'bellicose' be a good substitute for 'belligerent'?

The words bellicose and belligerent can be used in similar contexts, but bellicose suggests a disposition to fight. // a drunk in a bellicose mood

Q: Where would 'contentious' be a reasonable alternative to 'belligerent'?

The synonyms contentious and belligerent are sometimes interchangeable, but contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling. // wearied by his contentious disposition

Q: When might 'pugnacious' be a better fit than 'belligerent'?

While the synonyms pugnacious and belligerent are close in meaning, pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat. // a pugnacious gangster

Q: When is it sensible to use 'quarrelsome' instead of 'belligerent'?

The words quarrelsome and belligerent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause. // the heat made us all quarrelsome

belligerent 1 of 2

adjective

bə-ˈlij-rənt

Definition of belligerent next

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

belligerent

2 of 2

noun

as in combatant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word belligerent distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of belligerent are bellicose, contentious, pugnacious, and quarrelsome. While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities.

belligerent nations

When would bellicose be a good substitute for belligerent?

The words bellicose and belligerent can be used in similar contexts, but bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.

a drunk in a bellicose mood

Where would contentious be a reasonable alternative to belligerent?

The synonyms contentious and belligerent are sometimes interchangeable, but contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.

wearied by his contentious disposition

When might pugnacious be a better fit than belligerent?

While the synonyms pugnacious and belligerent are close in meaning, pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.

a pugnacious gangster

When is it sensible to use quarrelsome instead of belligerent?

The words quarrelsome and belligerent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.

the heat made us all quarrelsome

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of belligerent

Adjective

Advertisement In a belligerent California landscape only provisionally tamed by human hands, fire is an inevitability. —

Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025 Hui, an industry veteran of more than 50 years, today scored a Best Actor nomination from the Asian Film Awards as the stubbornly belligerent patriarch who will doubtless be recognizable, if not exactly relatable, to generations of viewers. —

James Marsh, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025 Teams are always interested in multi-position forwards, especially those as belligerent as Frederic. —

Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024 Yes, it is run by the brilliant but stunningly arrogant if not downright belligerent Alex Karp who rips through those who actually want to tell the story like a machete through margarine. —

Jim Cramer, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for belligerent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for belligerent

Adjective

Instead, her life was turned upside down last week after President Donald Trump’s administration began instituting mass layoffs as part of an aggressive effort to trim the federal workforce.

— Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Beef, coffee and orange juice are among groceries with higher prices, but eggs are uniquely affected by the aggressive strain of avian flu, which has strained supply.

— Dakin Andone, CNN, 16 Feb. 2025