bellicose
/'belikous/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having or showing a ready disposition to fight; warlike or aggressive in manner: Describes a person, group, or nation that is inclined to start arguments, conflicts, or wars.
Usage
- The word "bellicose" is a formal adjective used to describe an aggressive, confrontational, or warlike attitude. It is often applied to rhetoric, posturing, or behavior.
- It typically modifies nouns like , , , , , or .
Examples
- The dictator's bellicose speeches threatened neighboring countries.
- His bellicose nature made him difficult to work with on the diplomatic team.
- The editorial criticized the government's bellicose foreign policy.
Advanced Usage
- "Bellicose posturing": Aggressive actions or statements intended to intimidate or show strength without necessarily engaging in immediate conflict.
- The military exercises were seen as mere bellicose posturing.
- Used in historical or political analysis to describe eras or leaders.
- The bellicose era was marked by constant threats of war.
Variants and Related Words
- Bellicosity (noun): The aggressive or warlike behavior or attitude itself.
- His bellicosity was a major obstacle to peace talks.
Synonyms
- Belligerent: Hostile and aggressive.
- Combative: Eager or ready to fight or argue.
- Contentious: Causing or likely to cause an argument; quarrelsome.
- Truculent: Eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.
- Pugnacious: Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.
Antonyms
- Peaceable: Inclined to avoid conflict; peaceful.
- Conciliatory: Intended or likely to placate or pacify.
- Pacific: Promoting peace; peaceful.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "To beat the war drums": To speak or act in a way that encourages or prepares for war. This phrase conveys a similar idea to "bellicose rhetoric."
- Politicians accused of beating the war drums often use bellicose language.
Adjective
- having or showing a ready disposition to fight
- bellicose young officers
- a combative impulse
- a contentious nature