BELLIGERENT

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does belligerent mean? 

• BELLIGERENT (noun)
  The noun BELLIGERENT has 1 sense:

1. someone who fights (or is fighting)

  Familiarity information: BELLIGERENT used as a noun is very rare.

• BELLIGERENT (adjective)
  The adjective BELLIGERENT has 2 senses:

1. characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight

2. engaged in war

  Familiarity information: BELLIGERENT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BELLIGERENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Someone who fights (or is fighting)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

battler; belligerent; combatant; fighter; scrapper

Hypernyms ("belligerent" is a kind of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "belligerent"):

defender; withstander (a fighter who holds out against attack)

boxer; pugilist (someone who fights with his fists for sport)

brawler (a fighter (especially one who participates in brawls))

butter (a fighter who strikes the opponent with his head)

fencer; swordsman (someone skilled at fencing)

gladiator ((ancient Rome) a professional combatant or a captive who entertained the public by engaging in mortal combat)

gouger (an attacker who gouges out the antagonist's eye)

gamecock; hell-kite; hell-rooster (someone who is a very fierce fighter)

mauler (a fighter who batters the opponent)

skirmisher (someone who skirmishes (e.g., as a member of a scouting party))

street fighter; tough (someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing)

master; superior; victor (a combatant who is able to defeat rivals)

grappler; matman; wrestler (combatant who tries to throw opponent to the ground)

Derivation:

belligerent (characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight)

belligerent (engaged in war)

• BELLIGERENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight

Synonyms:

aggressive; belligerent

Context example:

a belligerent tone

Similar:

hostile (characterized by enmity or ill will)

Derivation:

belligerence (a natural disposition to be hostile)

belligerence; belligerency (hostile or warlike attitude or nature)

belligerent (someone who fights (or is fighting))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Engaged in war

Synonyms:

belligerent; militant; war-ridden; warring

Context example:

belligerent (or warring) nations

Similar:

unpeaceful (not peaceful)

Derivation:

belligerency (fighting; acts of overt warfare)

belligerent (someone who fights (or is fighting))

 Context examples 

Skiff Miller shook his head, no longer belligerent, but kindly, quick to be generous in response to generousness.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

A part-grown puppy, somewhat larger and older than he, came toward him slowly, with ostentatious and belligerent importance.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I spoke to the cook about it, when I went on deck to take up my duties in the galley, and though I had looked forward to a surly answer, I had not expected the belligerent harangue that I received.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

But no matter how Spitz circled, Joe whirled around on his heels to face him, mane bristling, ears laid back, lips writhing and snarling, jaws clipping together as fast as he could snap, and eyes diabolically gleaming—the incarnation of belligerent fear.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

He aroused in them their instinctive fear of the Wild, and they greeted him always with snarl and growl and belligerent hatred.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The gods were all-powerful, and a dog was no match against them; yet White Fang learned to face them, fiercely belligerent and unafraid.

(White Fang, by Jack London)