belligerent
/bəˈlɪdʒərənt/ (bre, ipa) · /bəˈlɪdʒərənt/ (ame, ipa) · /bə-ˈli-jə-rənt -ˈlij-/ (ame, mw) · /bəˈlɪdʒ.ər.ənt/ (bre, ipa) · /bəˈlɪdʒ.ɚ.ənt/ (ame, ipa)
belligerent — adjective
- belligerentpositive
- more belligerentcomparative
- most belligerentsuperlative
1. showing a hostile readiness to argue with people, challenge them, or start a fig
showing a hostile readiness to argue with people, challenge them, or start a fight.
After one rude comment, Imran became belligerent and banged the table.
become belligerent after provocation
The customer grew belligerent when staff refused another refund.
grow belligerent in a complaint
By midnight, Christopher sounded belligerent on the phone with police.
Nora gave a belligerent reply and stepped closer to the guard.
During the budget meeting, Hamza became belligerent and challenged every suggestion.
- hostile
broader and stronger on bad feeling, not always on arguing
- aggressive
more general and can describe physical or competitive force
- combative
stresses a habit of picking fights or arguments
- confrontational
focuses on openly challenging people face to face
- calm
not acting in an angry or fighting way
- cooperative
willing to work with others instead of challenging them
- peaceful
not wanting conflict or violence
文法句型
become/grow/sound belligerent
belligerent + tone/reply/customer
用法筆記
Often used for a person's tone, behavior, or manner after they feel challenged or frustrated. Distinguish from adjective/2: this sense is about aggressive behavior in an argument, not participation in war.
2. used for a state, army, or side that is already involved in war or armed conflic
used for a state, army, or side that is already involved in war or armed conflict.
The treaty banned trade with belligerent states during the conflict.
formal use with states in war
Aid ships avoided waters near belligerent forces in the region.
belligerent + forces
Under the law, no belligerent nation could use the port.
Reporters needed special permits to enter belligerent territory by air.
The neutral island refused fuel to belligerent aircraft after sunset.
- neutral
not joining either side in a war
- nonaligned
not formally attached to a fighting side or bloc
文法句型
belligerent + state/nation/force
remain belligerent
用法筆記
Mostly found in formal news, legal, and historical writing with nouns like 'state', 'nation', 'power', or 'force'. Distinguish from adjective/1: here the word means involved in war, not merely rude or aggressive.
常見錯誤
belligerent — noun
- belligerentsingular
- belligerentsplural
1. one of the sides in a war, whether it is a state, an army, or another fighting g
one of the sides in a war, whether it is a state, an army, or another fighting group.
Neutral ships were warned not to supply either belligerent.
either belligerent in legal notices
The agreement required each belligerent to release wounded prisoners.
each belligerent in treaty language
Journalists interviewed representatives from both belligerents after the ceasefire.
Under the ruling, a belligerent could not seize civilian cargo.
The mediator met each belligerent separately before the peace talks.
- combatant
often refers to a fighting person or force rather than the whole side
- warring party
a common legal and diplomatic phrase for one side in a conflict
- adversary
broader and not limited to war
- neutral
a state or side that does not join the fighting
- noncombatant
a person not taking part in the fighting
文法句型
each/either belligerent
both belligerents
用法筆記
Mostly a formal legal or historical term for a state, army, or organized side in a war. Distinguish from everyday words like 'opponent': a belligerent is specifically one side in an armed conflict.