bellicosity
Eagerness for conflict
Bellicosity is an aggressive, warlike disposition—eagerness to fight or readiness for conflict.
The term applies to nations, leaders, or rhetoric that seem to be spoiling for a fight: The ambassador's bellicosity alarmed neighboring countries.
It suggests not just the capacity for war but an inclination toward it.
Inclination to quarrel
- combativenessInclination toward conflict
- truculenceFierce, sullen defiance
- ferocityExtreme violent intensity
- aggressivenessForceful, hostile disposition
contentiousness · quarrelsomeness · antagonism · provocation · assertiveness · forcefulness · intimidation · bullying
Promoting or inciting warfare
- hawkishnessAdvocacy for aggression
- jingoismBellicose extreme patriotism
- saber-rattlingThreatening show of military might
- arms raceEscalating weapons accumulation between nations
militancy · imperialism · expansionism · war drums · mobilization · armament · brinkmanship · gunboat diplomacy
pugnacity
Inclination to quarrel
- combativenessInclination toward conflict
- truculenceFierce, sullen defiance
- ferocityExtreme violent intensity
aggressiveness · contentiousness · quarrelsomeness · antagonism · provocation · assertiveness · forcefulness · intimidation · bullying · coercion
warmongering
Promoting or inciting warfare
- hawkishnessAdvocacy for aggression
- jingoismBellicose extreme patriotism
- saber-rattlingThreatening show of military might
arms race · militancy · imperialism · expansionism · war drums · mobilization · armament · brinkmanship · gunboat diplomacy · posturing
confrontation
Direct hostile encounter
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
quarrel · skirmish · feud · strife · discord · friction · contention · struggle · showdown · standoff
animosity
Active, bitter hostility
malevolence · vitriol · acrimony · ill will · venom · hatred · loathing · contempt · resentment · grudge
- aggressionhostility, violence, attack, fight, combativeness
- hostilityanimosity, hostility, antagonism, malice, enmity
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- combativenessaggression, antagonism, combativeness, contentiousness, hostility
- irritabilitycranky, grouchy, grumpy, irritated, annoyed
bellicositypacifism
Antiwar moral stance
peacefulness · dovishness · nonviolence · nonaggression · antimilitarism
bellicosityfriendliness
Warm, welcoming disposition
amiability · amicability · geniality · cordiality · affability
antebellum, belligerent, bellicose, belligerence, belligerently, belligerency, postbellum, bellicoseness