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belligerence

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From belligerent +‎ -ence.[1]

Pronunciation

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  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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belligerence (countable and uncountable, plural belligerences)

  1. The state of being belligerent; aggressive inclination to war or violence. [1804[1]]
    Antonym: nonbelligerency
    • 2013 April 9, Andrei Lankov, “Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff.”, in New York Times[1]:
      A closer look at North Korean history reveals what Pyongyang’s leaders really want their near-farcical belligerence to achieve — a reminder to the world that North Korea exists, and an impression abroad that its leaders are irrational and unpredictable.
  2. A feeling of aggression and hostility, characterized by an urge for confrontation and provocation.

Translations

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References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “belligerence”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.