Bellicose
hardNegative toneBEL-ih-kohs
adjective
Definition
Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight
Memory hook
BELLI-COSE: picture a BELLY that's CLOSE to bursting with aggression — ready to fight.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The senator's bellicose rhetoric alarmed foreign diplomats.”
“His bellicose attitude made diplomatic negotiations impossible.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The senator's ______ rhetoric alarmed foreign diplomats.”
Show answer
bellicose
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Bellicose is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "pugnacious" or "combative" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "peaceable".
Related GRE Words
truculent
Eager to argue or fight; aggressively defiant
pugnacious
Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight
antagonistic
Showing or feeling active opposition or hostility toward someone or something
belligerent
Hostile and aggressive; engaged in war or conflict
quarrelsome
Given to or characterized by quarreling
acrimonious
Bitter and sharp in language or tone; caustic
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