Synonyms of belligerence

belligerence

noun

bə-ˈlij-rən(t)s 

as in aggression

an inclination to fight or quarrel

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aggression
• aggressiveness
• hostility
• defiance
• bellicosity
• belligerency
• pugnacity
• combativeness
• fight
• militancy
• truculence
• militance
• contentiousness
• feistiness
• assaultiveness
• scrappiness
• quarrelsomeness
• disputatiousness
• irritability
• antagonism
• fierceness
• unfriendliness
• chip on one's shoulder
• jingoism
• militarism
• imperialism
• militantness
• petulance
• rudeness
• surliness
• peevishness
• testiness
• irascibility
• irritableness
• grumpiness
• crankiness
• orneriness
• fractiousness
• querulousness
• crossness
• disagreeableness
• grouchiness
• fretfulness
• hyperaggressiveness
• biliousness
• huffiness
• acidity
• pettishness
• captiousness
• waspishness
• irascibleness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pacifism
• nonaggression
• friendliness
• benevolence
• cordiality
• sociability
• gentleness
• geniality
• affability
• amiability
• graciousness
• pleasantness
• antimilitarism
• mildness
• kindliness
• complaisance
• anti-imperialism
• amicability
• antiaggression
• amenability
• placability

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of belligerence

Meanwhile Hezbollah's constant attacks against Israel following the October 7 Hamas invasion caused Israel to consider terminating the agreements, but for all practical purposes that belligerence mainly brought resource development to a standstill. —Daniel Markind, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Over the last several years, the two powers have butted heads over trade and technology, Russia’s war on Ukraine, and Beijing’s belligerence in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. —Foreign Affairs, 9 Jan. 2025

Kickstart Your Day with The Morning Jolt Apparently, the rule is: belligerence toward our friends, tenderness toward our enemies, or some of them. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 15 Jan. 2025

In the last decade, North Korean belligerence has spurred the creation of an innovative defense industrial base in South Korea, which now exports to clients globally. —Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024