on the warpath
Aggressively seeking conflict
On the warpath describes someone in an aggressively hostile mood, ready to confront or attack.
The phrase comes from Native American warfare—warriors literally traveling a path to battle—but now applies to anyone spoiling for a fight: The boss is on the warpath about the missing files.
It suggests visible anger and imminent conflict rather than quiet resentment.
Intense violent anger
- rageIntense, violent anger
- wrathFierce, punishing anger
- seethingIntensely, quietly enraged
- fumingExtremely angry, visibly so
livid · incensed · enraged · infuriated · irate · outrage · indignation · resentment
Decisive final confrontation
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
altercation · collision · challenge · opposition · friction · encounter · struggle · contention
Sudden armed incursion
- assaultViolent offensive act
- attackAggressive act against another
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
incursion · invasion · ambush · skirmish · battle · combat · hostilities · siege
Punishment for wrongdoing
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- reprisalPunitive action in return
avenging · vindictive · vengeful · settling scores · comeuppance · eye for an eye · tit for tat · counterstrike
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- gloweringStaring with displeasure
- fearsomeCausing intense alarm
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
daunting · ominous · stern · grim · fierce · imposing · domineering · overbearing
fury
Intense violent anger
fuming · livid · incensed · enraged · infuriated · irate · outrage · indignation · resentment · temper
showdown
Decisive final confrontation
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
dispute · altercation · collision · challenge · opposition · friction · encounter · struggle · contention · squaring off
raid
Sudden armed incursion
- assaultViolent offensive act
- attackAggressive act against another
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
campaign · incursion · invasion · ambush · skirmish · battle · combat · hostilities · siege · charge
retribution
Punishment for wrongdoing
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
reprisal · avenging · vindictive · vengeful · settling scores · comeuppance · eye for an eye · tit for tat · counterstrike · backlash
menacing
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- gloweringStaring with displeasure
- fearsomeCausing intense alarm
formidable · daunting · ominous · stern · grim · fierce · imposing · domineering · overbearing · bullying
on the warpathconciliatory
Meant to placate
peaceful · peacemaking · burying the hatchet · peaceable · pacifist
warpath, path, warred, warring, warrior, warriors, warlike, warfare, wartime