hawkish

adjective

hawk·​ish ˈhȯ-kish 

1

: resembling or suggesting a hawk or the beak of a hawk in appearance

a hawkish nose

He has a thatch of black curly hair and hawkish features.

—Jeff Shear

2

: having a militant attitude (as in a dispute) and advocating immediate vigorous action

especially : supporting war or warlike policies

a hawkish politician

He was a frequent and persistently hawkish participant in the war councils of the Administration.

—Vincent Blasi

While definitions vary, "neoconservative" generally refers to formerly moderate policy advocates who favor a hawkish and assertive foreign policy to implant democracy and American values abroad.

—Paul Richter

hawkishly adverb

Land is expensive, scarce, and watched hawkishly by environmentalists.

—Boston Magazine

hawkishness noun

… his Western anti-government philosophy and cold-war hawkishness…

—Jon Meacham

Examples of hawkish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Japan’s inflation is expected to tick higher in August, according to a Reuters poll, backing the case for the Bank of Japan to stay hawkish as the board sets its policy on Friday. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2024

Although some hawkish voices in China appear eager to anticipate a use of force, most experts agree that Xi still sees a military conflict over Taiwan as a crisis to be avoided rather than an opportunity to be exploited. —Jessica Chen Weiss, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2024

That was due to factors including the hawkish Bank of Japan imploding the popular yen carry trade in the short term, weak U.S. data and volatility in earnings. —Jenni Reid, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2024

For example, the more hawkish Haley has defended the U.S.'s aid to and support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. —Monica Potts, ABC News, 22 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined at sense 1