BELLICOSE Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of bellicose are belligerent , contentious , pugnacious , and quarrelsome . While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," bellicose suggests a disposition to fight. // a drunk in a bellicose mood

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

In some situations, the words belligerent and bellicose are roughly equivalent. However, belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities. // belligerent nations

Q: When could 'contentious' be used to replace 'bellicose'?

Although the words contentious and bellicose have much in common, contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling. // wearied by his contentious disposition

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

The words pugnacious and bellicose can be used in similar contexts, but pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat. // a pugnacious gangster

Q: When is 'quarrelsome' a more appropriate choice than 'bellicose'?

While the synonyms quarrelsome and bellicose are close in meaning, quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause. // the heat made us all quarrelsome

bellicose

adjective

ˈbe-li-ˌkōs

Definition of bellicose next

as in aggressive

feeling or displaying eagerness to fight bellicose hockey players who seem to spend more time fighting than playing

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How is the word bellicose distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of bellicose are belligerent, contentious, pugnacious, and quarrelsome. While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.

a drunk in a bellicose mood

Where would belligerent be a reasonable alternative to bellicose?

In some situations, the words belligerent and bellicose are roughly equivalent. However, belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities.

belligerent nations

When could contentious be used to replace bellicose?

Although the words contentious and bellicose have much in common, contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.

wearied by his contentious disposition

When might pugnacious be a better fit than bellicose?

The words pugnacious and bellicose can be used in similar contexts, but pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.

a pugnacious gangster

When is quarrelsome a more appropriate choice than bellicose?

While the synonyms quarrelsome and bellicose are close in meaning, quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.

the heat made us all quarrelsome

Examples 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 bellicose But the Israeli military’s increasingly bellicose statements pointing to an imminent ground invasion have cooled as diplomats on the sidelines of the United General Assembly rushed to secure a pause in the fighting. —

NBC News, 28 Sep. 2024 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began to pivot from fighting Hamas in Gaza to Hezbollah in Lebanon, backed by bellicose allies on his extreme right. —

Christian Edwards, CNN, 25 Sep. 2024 Camp Humphreys’ importance has only grown as North Korea has expanded its military threat in recent years, building a nuclear missile program in defiance of United Nations resolutions banning it, and releasing a steady stream of bellicose rhetoric against South Korea and its American ally. —

Mike Valerio, CNN, 2 Sep. 2024 But Russia’s war in Ukraine extends well beyond its ruthless missile and drone strikes, its legions of soldiers, and its bellicose rhetoric. —

David Lewis, Foreign Affairs, 18 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bellicose

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellicose

Adjective

Take London, which was a clear hotspot (and will continue to be, for some time): Mandarin Oriental opened its second spot in the capital, barely minutes in a limo from its existing Knightsbridge perch, while Maybourne’s soon-to-be aggressive expansion was teed up by the arrival of the sleek Emory.

Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2025
The state has been one of the most aggressive collectors of income taxes paid based on the number of workdays high earners spend there.

Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 10 Jan. 2025