belligerence

noun

bel·​lig·​er·​ence bə-ˈlij--ˈli-jə-rən(t)s 

-ˈlij-

: an aggressive or truculent attitude, atmosphere, or disposition

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Belligerent, Belligerents, and Belligerence

Belligerent may function as either an adjective or a noun. As an adjective, it has two primary meanings, each of which corresponds to the two senses of its noun form.

The older sense (“waging war”) is generally used to refer to the actions or combatants of a nation at war, or to the nation itself ("belligerent operations"; "belligerent troops"; “the belligerent state”); it is paralleled by the earliest sense of the noun, “a nation at war” (“the belligerents assembled at the peace conference”). The second sense of belligerent (“inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness”), which usually applies to persons or animals, or to their attitudes or actions, likewise parallels the second sense of the noun (“a person taking part in a fight”). A related noun belligerence refers to “an aggressive or truculent attitude, atmosphere, or disposition” that can be either individual or global.

Synonyms

• aggression
• aggressiveness
• assaultiveness
• bellicosity
• belligerency
• combativeness
• contentiousness
• defiance
• disputatiousness
• feistiness
• fight
• militance
• militancy
• militantness
• pugnacity
• quarrelsomeness
• scrappiness
• truculence

Examples of belligerence in a Sentence

the dominant male wolf was able to withstand the belligerence of younger challengers

Recent Examples on the Web

This segment of What’s Ahead examines the ominous implications of China’s increasing belligerence. —Steve Forbes, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024

More hatred never overcomes hatred; more revenge never satisfies the ache of loss; more belligerence never calms belligerence. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2024

His base may love his belligerence in a Black crowd. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2024

But Morrow’s quiet intensity, which doesn’t soft-pedal Isaac’s arrogance and belligerence, has a haunting quality. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

see belligerent

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

belligerence

noun

bel·​lig·​er·​ence bə-ˈlij(-ə)-rən(t)s 

: a belligerent attitude or disposition