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Belligerently - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Belligerently means behaving in a hostile or aggressive manner, often ready to argue or fight. It describes someone acting with anger or defiance, typically in confrontational situations.

belligerently

/bəˌlɪdʒərəntli/ /bɪˈlɪdʒərəntli/

Definition:

In a hostile, aggressive, or combative manner.

Synonyms:

aggressively, hostilely, combatively, confrontationally

Part of Speech:

adverb

Antonyms:

peacefully, amiably

Common Collocations:

act belligerently, speak belligerently, behave belligerently

Derivatives:

belligerent, belligerence, belligerency

Usage Tips:

Use to describe actions or speech marked by aggression or hostility; often implies unnecessary provocation.

Common Phrases:

"belligerently defiant, " "belligerently stubborn, " "belligerently confrontational"

Etymology:

From Latin *belligerare* (to wage war), combining *bellum* (war) and *gerere* (to wage).

Examples:

  • 1. He argued belligerently with the referee over the call.
  • 2. The drunk man shouted belligerently at passersby for no reason.
  • 3. She glared belligerently when questioned about her decision.
  • 4. The politician responded belligerently to the journalist's probing questions.

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