as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
the dominant male wolf was able to withstand the belligerence of younger challengers
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Recent Examples of belligerence
Once healthy, Marchand should be a seamless fit alongside Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett and a championship roster overflowing with belligerence.
—
Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Beijing’s belligerence should help the Pentagon keep stitching together tighter security relationships—and perhaps establish more military basing opportunities—in the Indo-Pacific.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
What To Know There have been tensions over NATO accusing Russia of sabotaging vessels in the Baltic Sea and claims of hybrid warfare around what is dubbed the NATO Lake as the alliance's members move to combat Moscow's belligerence in the region.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Also, there is the matter of belligerence toward America’s allies and tenderness toward America’s enemies.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 27 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for belligerence
Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Beijing’s belligerence should help the Pentagon keep stitching together tighter security relationships—and perhaps establish more military basing opportunities—in the Indo-Pacific.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
What To Know There have been tensions over NATO accusing Russia of sabotaging vessels in the Baltic Sea and claims of hybrid warfare around what is dubbed the NATO Lake as the alliance's members move to combat Moscow's belligerence in the region.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Also, there is the matter of belligerence toward America’s allies and tenderness toward America’s enemies.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 27 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for belligerence
Cite this Entry
“Belligerence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belligerence. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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