SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
belligerent
adjective
Hostile and ready to argue or fight.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Ready to quarrel or fight
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topBellicose particularly suggests eagerness for conflict or war; contentious can concern persistent argument.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See belligerent in use
A belligerent spectator disrupted the otherwise friendly debate.
The use of an apartment courtyard became contentious when some residents proposed weekend music sessions and others wanted a reliably quiet space. Most people explained their preferences calmly, but one speaker adopted a belligerent tone and challenged anyone who disagreed to confront him outside.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license