bellicosely
In fighting manner
In a manner eager for conflict or confrontation.
Someone who speaks bellicosely adopts an aggressive, combative tone: He bellicosely challenged anyone who questioned his authority.
The adverb suggests warlike hostility that may be disproportionate to the situation.
Armed conflict between groups
- tacticalStrategically planned
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- battalionMid-sized military unit
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
warlike · martial · hawkishly · jingoistically · saber-rattling · warmongering · aggressively · militantly
In argumentative fashion
- quarrelsomelyIn an argumentative manner
- combativelyIn a confrontational manner
- defiantlyIn open resistance
- provocativelyIn an inciting manner
contrarily · obstinately · stubbornly · litigiously · cantankerously · testily · peevishly · fractiously
Inclination to quarrel
- truculenceFierce, sullen defiance
- combativenessInclination toward conflict
- ferocityExtreme violent intensity
- fiercenessIntense aggressive quality
forcefulness · intimidation · threatening · dominance · coercion · bullying · confrontation · hostilely
Active opposition or hostility
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
- acrimonyBitter ill will
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
rancor · spite · vindictiveness · malevolently · hatefully · venomously · spitefully · resentfully
Insulting to provoke
- goadingInciting through persistent pressure
- incitingUrging others to act
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
- antagonizingDeliberately causing hostility
challenging · baiting · needling · prodding · riling · instigating · agitating · inflaming
warfare
Armed conflict between groups
offensive · warlike · martial · hawkishly · jingoistically · saber-rattling · warmongering · aggressively · militantly · invasively
contentiously
In argumentative fashion
- quarrelsomelyIn an argumentative manner
- combativelyIn a confrontational manner
- defiantlyIn open resistance
provocatively · contrarily · obstinately · stubbornly · litigiously · cantankerously · testily · peevishly · fractiously · waspishly
pugnacity
Inclination to quarrel
- truculenceFierce, sullen defiance
- combativenessInclination toward conflict
- ferocityExtreme violent intensity
fierceness · forcefulness · intimidation · threatening · dominance · coercion · bullying · confrontation · hostilely · menacingly
antagonism
Active opposition or hostility
bitterness · rancor · spite · vindictiveness · malevolently · hatefully · venomously · spitefully · resentfully · contemptuously
taunting
Insulting to provoke
- goadingInciting through persistent pressure
- incitingUrging others to act
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
antagonizing · challenging · baiting · needling · prodding · riling · instigating · agitating · inflaming · enraging
bellicoselypeacefully
In tranquil fashion
peaceably · nonviolently · pacifistically · conciliatorily · amicably