belligerent
Describes a person or group that is hostile, aggressive, and ready to fight or argue. In a legal or historical context, it specifically refers to nations or parties officially engaged in a state of war.
Exemples
3 sur 5The customer became increasingly belligerent when told that the item was non-refundable.
The customer became increasingly aggressive and hostile when told that the item was non-refundable.
The government issued a statement condemning the belligerent rhetoric coming from the neighboring state.
The government issued a statement condemning the warlike and aggressive rhetoric coming from the neighboring state.
Hey, there's no need to get belligerent; I was just trying to help you out.
Hey, there's no need to get aggressive; I was just trying to help you out.
Antonymes
Famille de mots
Astuce mémo
Look at the prefix 'belli-', which comes from the Latin word for war ('bellum'). You see this same root in 'rebellion' and 'antebellum'. Someone belligerent is 'ready for war'.
Quiz rapide
The security guards had to intervene when the fan became _____ after his team lost the game.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : belligerent
Exemples
The customer became increasingly belligerent when told that the item was non-refundable.
everydayThe customer became increasingly aggressive and hostile when told that the item was non-refundable.
The government issued a statement condemning the belligerent rhetoric coming from the neighboring state.
formalThe government issued a statement condemning the warlike and aggressive rhetoric coming from the neighboring state.
Hey, there's no need to get belligerent; I was just trying to help you out.
informalHey, there's no need to get aggressive; I was just trying to help you out.
Scholars argue that the belligerent nature of the 19th-century empires made the global conflict inevitable.
academicScholars argue that the warlike nature of the 19th-century empires made the global conflict inevitable.
Our competitors have adopted a belligerent strategy, aggressively undercutting our prices to drive us out of the market.
businessOur competitors have adopted a hostile strategy, aggressively undercutting our prices to drive us out of the market.
Antonymes
Famille de mots
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
belligerent rights
Rights recognized under international law for those at war
non-belligerent state
A country not taking part in a specific war
act of belligerence
An action that initiates or provokes a fight
Souvent confondu avec
Bellicose refers to a general inclination or desire to start wars, while belligerent usually describes someone currently engaged in a conflict or acting aggressively.
Notes d'usage
Belligerent is most commonly used to describe individuals who are being difficult and aggressive in social situations. In high-level political or historical writing, it is used more literally to identify those participating in armed conflict.
Erreurs courantes
Learners sometimes use it simply to mean 'mean' or 'rude,' but it implies a specific type of loud, active aggression or readiness to fight physically or verbally.
Astuce mémo
Look at the prefix 'belli-', which comes from the Latin word for war ('bellum'). You see this same root in 'rebellion' and 'antebellum'. Someone belligerent is 'ready for war'.
Origine du mot
From the Latin 'belligerantem', meaning 'waging war', combining 'bellum' (war) and 'gerere' (to wage or carry).
Modèles grammaticaux
Contexte culturel
In legal international terminology, 'belligerent status' is a formal designation that grants certain rights and responsibilities to a group during a civil war.
Quiz rapide
The security guards had to intervene when the fan became _____ after his team lost the game.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : belligerent
Vocabulaire associé
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