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belligerent

bel·lig·er·ent
B b

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [buh-lij-er-uh nt]
    • /bəˈlɪdʒ ər ənt/
    • /bəˈlɪdʒ.ər.ənt/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [buh-lij-er-uh nt]
    • /bəˈlɪdʒ ər ənt/

Definitions of belligerent word

  • adjective belligerent A belligerent person is hostile and aggressive. 3
  • countable noun belligerent The belligerents in a war are the countries or groups that are fighting each other. 3
  • adjective belligerent marked by readiness to fight or argue; aggressive 3
  • adjective belligerent relating to or engaged in a legally recognized war or warfare 3
  • noun belligerent a person or country engaged in fighting or war 3
  • adjective belligerent at war; designating or of a state recognized under international law as being engaged in a war 3

Information block about the term

Origin of belligerent

First appearance:

before 1570
One of the 33% oldest English words
1570-80; < Latin belliger waging war (belli-, combining form of bellum war + ger-, base of gerere to conduct) + -ent; replacing belligerant < Latin belligerant- (stem of belligerāns, present participle of belligerāre to wage war; see -ant)

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Belligerent

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

belligerent popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 83% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

belligerent usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for belligerent

adj belligerent

  • combative — A person who is combative is aggressive and eager to fight or argue.
  • contentious — A contentious issue causes a lot of disagreement or arguments.
  • hostile — of, relating to, or characteristic of an enemy: a hostile nation.
  • quarrelsome — inclined to quarrel; argumentative; contentious.
  • ornery — ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper: No one can get along with my ornery cousin.

Antonyms for belligerent

adj belligerent

  • peaceful — characterized by peace; free from war, strife, commotion, violence, or disorder: a peaceful reign; a peaceful demonstration.
  • friendly — characteristic of or befitting a friend; showing friendship: a friendly greeting.
  • kind — of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a person: a kind and loving person.
  • agreeable — If something is agreeable, it is pleasant and you enjoy it.
  • calm — A calm person does not show or feel any worry, anger, or excitement.

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See also

Matching words

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