[bel.lig.er.ent] adj [modif. of L belligerant-, belligerans, prp. of belligerare to wage war, fr. belliger waging war, fr. bellum + gerere to wage] (1577) 1: waging war; specif: belonging to or recognized as a state at war and protected by and subject to the laws of war
2: inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness -- belligerent n -- bel.lig.er.ent.ly adv syn belligerent, bellicose, pugnacious, quarrelsome, contentious mean having an aggressive or fighting attitude. belligerent implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities "belligerent nations". bellicose suggests a disposition to fight "a drunk in a bellicose mood". pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat "a pugnacious thug". quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause "the heat made us all quarrelsome". contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling "wearied by his contentious disposition".