Skip to main content

belligerent — aggressive and ready to fight or argue

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: aggressive and ready to fight or argue

Pronunciation (IPA): /bəˈlɪdʒərənt/

Example Sentences

  • The customer became belligerent when told the WiFi password was 'password123'.
  • My cat gets belligerent whenever I try to give him a bath.
  • The negotiations failed due to the belligerent stance of both parties.

belligerent

ADJECTIVE

[/bəˈlɪdʒərənt/]

aggressive and ready to fight or argue

The belligerent customer slammed his fist on the counter, demanding a refund.
💡 Concept

The belligerent customer slammed his fist on the counter, demanding a refund.

BELLI(war) + GERENT(waging) — by actively GERENT(waging) a new BELLI(war) against the peaceful kingdom, the dark king proved to be highly belligerent.
🧠 Mnemonic

BELLI(war) + GERENT(waging) — by actively GERENT(waging) a new BELLI(war) against the peaceful kingdom, the dark king proved to be highly belligerent.

When the landlord gently asked for the late rent, the angry tenant kicked the door and became instantly belligerent.
🎵 Rhyme

When the landlord gently asked for the late rent, the angry tenant kicked the door and became instantly belligerent.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/bəˈlɪdʒərənt/
🇬🇧 UK/bəˈlɪdʒərənt/

🌳Etymology

Rootbelliger
Suffix--ent

Origin

From Latin 'belliger' meaning 'warlike,' derived from 'bellum' (war) and 'gerere' (to wage or carry on). The suffix '-ent' indicates an adjective form meaning 'being in a state of.'

Breakdown

bellum (war) + gerere (to wage/carry) + -ent (adjective suffix indicating state) = belligerent (waging war, aggressive)

🎵Rhyme

different
indifferent
coherent

🔗Collocations

belligerent attitude
belligerent behavior
become belligerent
belligerent nation
belligerent drunk
belligerent response

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“The customer became belligerent when told the WiFi password was 'password123'.”

😄 Fun example

“My cat gets belligerent whenever I try to give him a bath.”

“The negotiations failed due to the belligerent stance of both parties.”

“He adopted a belligerent tone when discussing the parking ticket.”

📚Related Words

Want to master 27,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.