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   Bel·lig·er·ent

   /bəˈlij(ə)rənt/

   

   adjective

   • 1. hostile and aggressive: "a bull-necked, belligerent old man" Similar hostileaggressivethreateningantagonisticpugnaciousbellicosetruculentconfrontationalargumentativequarrelsomedisputatiouscontentiousmilitantcombativequick-temperedhot-temperedill-temperedbad-temperedirasciblecaptiousinformal:spoiling for a fightstroppybolshiescrappyvulgar slang:pissyrare:oppugnantOpposite friendlypeaceable
   • ▪ engaged in a war or conflict, as recognized by international law: "after years of mass slaughter and hardship, opposition to the war became widespread in all the belligerent countries" Similar warringat warcombatantfightingbattlingcontendingconflictingclashingquarrelingmilitantmilitaristicmartialwarlikewarmongeringsaber-rattlinghawkishgung-hoinformal:at each other's throatsOpposite peacefulneutral

   noun

   • 1. a nation or person engaged in war or conflict, as recognized by international law: "ships and goods captured at sea by a belligerent"

   Word Origin late 16th century: from Latin belligerant- ‘waging war’, from the verb belligerare, from bellum ‘war’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. belligerently adverb

   Scrabble Points: 14

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