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bellicose

adjective
bel·​li·​cose | \ ˈbe-li-ˌkōs How to pronounce bellicose (audio) \

Definition of bellicose

: favoring or inclined to start quarrels or wars
Other Words from bellicose Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Don't War Over the Meaning of Bellicose Example Sentences Learn More about bellicose

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Other Words from bellicose

bellicosity \ ˌbe-​li-​ˈkä-​sə-​tē How to pronounce bellicosity (audio) \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for bellicose

belligerent, bellicose, pugnacious, quarrelsome, contentious mean having an aggressive or fighting attitude. belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities. belligerent nations bellicose suggests a disposition to fight. a drunk in a bellicose mood pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat. a pugnacious gangster quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause. the heat made us all quarrelsome contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling. wearied by his contentious disposition

Don't War Over the Meaning of Bellicose

Since bellicose describes an attitude that hopes for actual war, the word is generally applied to nations and their leaders. In the 20th century, it was commonly used to describe such figures as Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm, Italy's Benito Mussolini, and Japan's General Tojo, leaders who believed their countries had everything to gain by starting wars. The international relations of a nation with a bellicose foreign policy tend to be stormy and difficult, and bellicosity usually makes the rest of the world very uneasy.

Examples of bellicose in a Sentence

Never in peacetime, perhaps, have the statements of our government officials been more relentlessly bellicose. Yet their actions have been comparatively cautious. — New Yorker, 24 June 1985 For three centuries Viking raiders haunted western Europe. The bellicose Charlemagne himself felt menaced. — Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers, 1983 His evident calm, which always infuriated the opposition, must have irritated the bellicose colonel to a point at which he could control himself no longer. — Michael Pearson, Those Damned Rebels, 1972 bellicose hockey players who always seem to spend more time fighting than playing
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Recent Examples on the Web

 The tabloid that Hu edits is known for its nationalistic coverage and bellicose opinions, which are frequently quoted by Western media. — Steven Jiang, CNN, "The man taking on Hong Kong from deep inside China's propaganda machine," 16 Aug. 2019 The United States and Iran have teetered on the brink of armed conflict in recent weeks, with both sides issuing bellicose warnings. — Megan Specia, BostonGlobe.com, "Iran says it has surpassed critical nuclear enrichment limit in 2015 accord," 8 July 2019 Some comments are calmly analytical, others bellicose. — David Wharton, latimes.com, "Is this 70-year-old marathon runner from East L.A. a record setter or a cheater?," 21 June 2019 Russian elites have been increasingly unhappy with the Kremlin’s bellicose policies and the corresponding multiplying Western sanctions. — Maria Snegovaya, Washington Post, "Why did Russia poison one of its ex-spies in Britain?," 20 Mar. 2018 The relative makeup of either bellicose or peaceable individuals determines the collective aggressiveness of a colony, which is also transmitted down through generations from parent to daughter colony. — Megan Molteni, WIRED, "Colonies of Aggressive, Social Spiders Boom After a Hurricane," 19 Aug. 2019 The bellicose Mr Trump, however, would be unlikely to mind. — The Economist, "America considers retaliating against currency manipulation," 27 July 2019 Throughout the recent crisis, Trump has wavered between bellicose language and actions toward Iran and a more accommodating tone, including a plea for negotiations. — Darlene Superville, The Denver Post, "In Mideast, Mike Pompeo seeks a global coalition against Iran," 23 June 2019 Because actual power does undergird Trump’s bellicose rhetoric, the rest of the world must contend with that question, in many cases for the first time. — Benjamin Hart, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Official: ‘We’re America, Bitch’ Is Administration’s Doctrine," 11 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bellicose.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of bellicose

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for bellicose

Middle English, from Latin bellicosus, from bellicus of war, from bellum war

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More Definitions for bellicose

bellicose

adjective
How to pronounce bellicose (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of bellicose

formal : having or showing a tendency to argue or fight

See the full definition for bellicose in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on bellicose

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with bellicose

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bellicose

Spanish Central: Translation of bellicose

Nglish: Translation of bellicose for Spanish Speakers

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