1
as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
a congenital truculence that resulted in his spending a significant amount of time in the principal's office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
the sergeant's truculence was revealed when she made the recruits run even further in the heat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of truculence
Musk reacted to McCormick’s ruling with characteristic truculence.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2024
And finally, a new series of jolts: a pandemic that wrought havoc on world supply chains; China’s lockdowns at home and its truculence toward Western trading partners critical of its policies; and the economic fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, such as rising energy and food costs.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Jan. 2023
Repression at home produces truculence abroad.
—Reuel Marc Gerecht, WSJ, 2 Oct. 2022
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng opened the door to such a meeting after months of diplomatic outbursts from Beijing, where the truculence of the Chinese Foreign Ministry has been matched by military saber-rattling and a crackdown in Hong Kong.
—Joel Gehrke, Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for truculence
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2024
And finally, a new series of jolts: a pandemic that wrought havoc on world supply chains; China’s lockdowns at home and its truculence toward Western trading partners critical of its policies; and the economic fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, such as rising energy and food costs.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Jan. 2023
Repression at home produces truculence abroad.
—Reuel Marc Gerecht, WSJ, 2 Oct. 2022
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng opened the door to such a meeting after months of diplomatic outbursts from Beijing, where the truculence of the Chinese Foreign Ministry has been matched by military saber-rattling and a crackdown in Hong Kong.
—Joel Gehrke, Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for truculence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for truculence
Noun
-
Gandhi’s strategy of collective and collaborative unity, rather than aggression, effectively dismantled British dominance.—
Dan Pontefract,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Russia was expelled from the G8, sanctioned by the West and ostracized on the global stage because of its aggression against Ukraine.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Kelly Walker, 29, is charged with child abuse, cruelty to animals and the killing and torture of an animal.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
20 Mar. 2025
-
On Wednesday morning, David Reid, 28, of Winsted turned himself in at police headquarters and was arrested on an outstanding warrant charging him with one count of cruelty to animals.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Featuring works by renowned photojournalists and archival footage, the exhibit serves as a record of war crimes committed eight decades apart yet eerily similar in brutality.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Even small shifts can build rapport and defuse hostility.—
Diana Lowe,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Intentionally directing attacks against civilian infrastructure and civilians who are not directly taking part in hostilities is considered a war crime under international law.—
Clarissa Ward,
CNN,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
She was shown writing her real name (girls and women in Gilead are forbidden to read and write) and giving the camera a signature June look of defiance.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Below ground, Red Ribbon, a hidden cocktail lounge, nods to Asheville’s spirited anti-Prohibitionists, who wore red ribbons as a symbol of defiance.—
Jenn Rice,
AFAR Media,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Truculence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/truculence. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share