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.
Examples
3 of 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.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
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'.
Quick Quiz
The security guards had to intervene when the fan became _____ after his team lost the game.
Correct!
The correct answer is: belligerent
Examples
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.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
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
Often Confused With
Bellicose refers to a general inclination or desire to start wars, while belligerent usually describes someone currently engaged in a conflict or acting aggressively.
Usage Notes
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
Memory Tip
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'.
Word Origin
From the Latin 'belligerantem', meaning 'waging war', combining 'bellum' (war) and 'gerere' (to wage or carry).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In legal international terminology, 'belligerent status' is a formal designation that grants certain rights and responsibilities to a group during a civil war.
Quick Quiz
The security guards had to intervene when the fan became _____ after his team lost the game.
Correct!
The correct answer is: belligerent
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