bel·li·cose

(bĕl′ĭ-kōs′)

adj.

Warlike or hostile in manner or temperament. See Synonyms at belligerent.

[Middle English, from Latin bellicōsus, from bellicus, of war, from bellum, war.]

bel′li·cose′ly adv.

bel′li·cos′i·ty (-kŏs′ĭ-tē), bel′li·cose′ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

References in classic literature

They proved that a seal pup could swim or not swim at birth by stating the proposition very bellicosely and then following it up with an attack on the opposing man's judgment, common sense, nationality, or past history.

View in context

Nishikanta bellicosely shouldered his vast bulk up to the captain, opened his shirt, and exposed his revolver.

View in context

During and after the arbitration it bellicosely treated the Philippines as an enemy instead of a friendly neighbor seeking third-party conciliation.

Beijing waging '3 Warfares' against UN arbitral ruling

To be sure, this shirt of mine screams not only its yellowness; it screams something else, something Duterte is bound to rage at even more bellicosely. Emblazoned across its chest is this:

A hot shirt for Christmas

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