bellicose
BEL-ih-kohss
/ˈbel.ɪ.kəʊs/
demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.
Bellicose is often used to describe the rhetoric or posture of a group or nation. It sounds more formal and 'grand' than belligerent.
The story behind the word. Directly from the Latin 'bellicosus', meaning 'warlike'. While 'belligerent' focuses on the 'waging' of war, 'bellicose' focuses on the 'fullness' of war—the state of being completely inclined toward it.
Word relationships
- belligerent: Belligerent is more common and often describes an active fighter; bellicose describes a warlike temperament or style.
- martial: Martial means relating to war or the military, but without the necessarily negative 'aggressive' connotation of bellicose.
- pacific: Pacific means peaceful in character or intent.
- conciliatory: Conciliatory means intended to placate or pacify.
Commonly confused with
- belligerent: A belligerent person is currently fighting; a bellicose person is just looking for a fight.
Collocations
- bellicose rhetoric
- bellicose attitude
- bellicose nation
Idioms & expressions
- rattling the saber
Example sentences
- "The senator's bellicose rhetoric alarmed those who were hoping for a diplomatic solution." Describing a politician's speech.
- "The bellicose mood of the capital made war seem inevitable." Historical analysis of a pre-war period.
Memory hook
Think of a 'belly' full of 'war' (bellum). A bellicose person is full of fight. Bellicose = Warlike.
When not to use
Rarely used for individuals in casual conversation; it's better for describing speeches, nations, or historical eras.
Fun facts
- The name 'Bella' means beautiful, but 'Bellum' means war. Don't confuse your Latin roots!
Related words
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