One entry found for belligerent.

Main Entry: bel·lig·er·ent
Pronunciation: b-lig(-)-rnt
Function: adjective
1 : waging war <belligerent nations>
2 : eager to or showing eagerness to fight <belligerent remarks>
- belligerent noun
- bel·lig·er·ent·ly adverb
synonyms BELLIGERENT, PUGNACIOUS, QUARRELSOME, CONTENTIOUS mean having an aggressive or fighting attitude. BELLIGERENT suggests either being actually at war <the belligerent nations refused to have peace talks> or having angry aggressive feelings <the new girl at school is belligerent and is not making many friends>. PUGNACIOUS suggests a nature that takes pleasure in conflict <a pugnacious fellow always getting into fights>. QUARRELSOME stresses a bad-tempered readiness to fight for no good reason <our neighbors are quarrelsome>. CONTENTIOUS suggests an odd and annoying fondness for arguing <irritated by contentious people>.

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