as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
a seafarer's legend that the remote island was inhabited by a warlike and uncivilized tribe
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of warlike
In daytime, younger men engage in ferocious warlike dances and combative ceremonial dialogues that spark more commentary from the smiling oldsters.
—
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024
The inclusion of protest songs and the desire of the local community together to fight off the invaders is imbued with warlike determination and revolutionary zeal.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 17 May 2024
The group, which the ADL says emphasizes physical fitness and a warlike mentality, has focused mostly on disrupting events oriented toward the LGBTQ community, such as Drag Queen Story Hour readings for children.
—Tavleen Tarrant, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2024
After a fiery speech, Mishima—obsessed with physical beauty and warlike vigor—killed himself with a sword.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for warlike 
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024
The inclusion of protest songs and the desire of the local community together to fight off the invaders is imbued with warlike determination and revolutionary zeal.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 17 May 2024
The group, which the ADL says emphasizes physical fitness and a warlike mentality, has focused mostly on disrupting events oriented toward the LGBTQ community, such as Drag Queen Story Hour readings for children.
—Tavleen Tarrant, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2024
After a fiery speech, Mishima—obsessed with physical beauty and warlike vigor—killed himself with a sword.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for warlike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warlike
Adjective
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The fire, first reported Wednesday morning, has quickly spread due to aggressive winds that have plagued firefighting efforts for weeks.—
Greg Norman,
Fox News,
23 Jan. 2025
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An aggressive exterior, with more aero and venting, hints at the performance potential within.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Three Israeli hostages were released to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday following a ceasefire deal between Israel and the militant group Hamas.—
Rachel Scully,
The Hill,
19 Jan. 2025
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Palestinian statehood remains very difficult question for Israel to answer, pushed further away by the October 7 attacks and 15 months of brutal war in Gaza against Palestinian militant group Hamas.—
Ellie Cook,
Newsweek,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, she was hounded out of the classroom by authorities hostile to Western literature.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2025
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Last year, Trump's predecessor Joe Biden fired the inspector general of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, after an investigation found the official had created a hostile work environment.—
Riley Beggin,
USA TODAY,
25 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near warlike
Cite this Entry
“Warlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warlike. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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