adjective

hawkish

/ˈhɔːkɪʃ/ · say it: HAW·kish

favoring a tough or aggressive approach

In From the Front Page

In more detail

1. (adjective) favoring aggressive military or political action; warlike

2. (adjective) resembling a hawk; having sharp features or a keen, piercing gaze

Examples

1. The hawkish president wanted to increase military spending and take a tougher stance toward enemy nations. 2. She fixed me with a hawkish stare that made me nervous.

How to use hawkish

In political and military contexts, hawkish describes those who favor strong, aggressive action or military intervention, often used in contrast with dovish. The term can carry negative connotations as overly aggressive, though it is also used neutrally in policy discussions. The second sense (resembling a hawk in appearance) is less common in modern usage.

Common phrases

hawkish stance
hawkish rhetoric
hawkish policy
hawkish approach
hawkish tone

Synonyms

aggressive · belligerent · warlike · martial · combative

Opposites

dovish · peaceful · conciliatory

Word family

hawk (noun) · hawkishly (adverb) · hawkishness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse hawkish with hawk as a verb (to sell or promote aggressively), or use it to describe physical features when the context demands the political meaning.

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