bellicose

adjective

Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight; warlike.

Advanced - Used in formal or literary contexts

Etymology

From Latin bellicosus "warlike," from bellum "war." Related to antebellum (before the war), rebel (war back), and duel (war of two).

Examples in Use

1.
"The bellicose rhetoric raised tensions between nations."
2.
"His bellicose attitude made negotiation difficult."
3.
"The bellicose nation prepared for war."

Related Vocabulary

Synonyms

aggressivewarlikehostilecombativepugnacious

Related Words

belligerentmilitantquarrelsomecontentious

Fun Fact

Bellicose, belligerent, and antebellum all contain Latin bellum (war). Mars was the god of war, but Bellona was a goddess of war too—her name also relates to bellum.

Word Game Tips

Letters: 9 letters (B, E, L, L, I, C, O, S, E)

Scrabble Value: 13 points

Tip: Words ending in "SE" are often good scoring opportunities.

Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!

Ready to find words like "bellicose" in a puzzle? Try today's Zabble challenge!

Play Now Get Hints Strategy Tips