adjective

bellicose

/ˈbɛlɪkəʊs/ · say it: BEL·ih·kōs

eager to fight

In From the Opinion Pages

In more detail

1. (adjective) eager or quick to fight; aggressive and threatening

2. (adjective) relating to or involving war or fighting

Examples

1. The bellicose leader made aggressive speeches threatening neighboring countries.
2. The two nations entered into a bellicose dispute over the disputed territory.

How to use bellicose

Bellicose describes someone or their behavior as overtly aggressive and hostile, or rhetoric and attitudes that advocate confrontation or war. It carries a disapproving tone and suggests not just the capacity for conflict but an eager or threatening inclination toward it. It appears frequently in political and diplomatic discourse.

Common phrases

bellicose tone
bellicose rhetoric
bellicose mood
bellicose attitude
bellicose statement

Synonyms

aggressive · combative · warlike · militant · pugnacious

Opposites

peaceful · pacifist · conciliatory

Word family

bellicosity (noun) · bellicosely (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use bellicose to mean simply 'relating to war' when they mean something more neutral; bellicose specifically implies an aggressive or threatening attitude, not merely involvement in military matters.

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