belligerence
noun
Did you know?
Belligerent, Belligerents, and Belligerence
Belligerent may function as either an adjective or a noun. As an adjective, it has two primary meanings, each of which corresponds to the two senses of its noun form.
The older sense (“waging war”) is generally used to refer to the actions or combatants of a nation at war, or to the nation itself ("belligerent operations"; "belligerent troops"; “the belligerent state”); it is paralleled by the earliest sense of the noun, “a nation at war” (“the belligerents assembled at the peace conference”). The second sense of belligerent (“inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness”), which usually applies to persons or animals, or to their attitudes or actions, likewise parallels the second sense of the noun (“a person taking part in a fight”). A related noun belligerence refers to “an aggressive or truculent attitude, atmosphere, or disposition” that can be either individual or global.
Examples of belligerence in a Sentence
Arthur Herman, National Review, 3 Apr. 2025
The relentless running of Szoboszlai typified Liverpool’s energetic performance, but the belligerence of Mac Allister and athleticism of Ryan Gravenberch provided the bite in midfield that was much-needed given the strengths that Eddie Howe’s side typically possess in the centre of the park.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Applying excessive pressure to Kyiv while going soft on Moscow undermines the possibility of a long-term settlement that could deter further Russian belligerence.
—Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2025
This is why Australian leaders have focused on the lack of notice rather than accusations of Beijing's belligerence.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belligerence
Cite this Entry
“Belligerence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belligerence. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
belligerence
noun
Share