- Today's Word
Bellicose
BEL-ih-kohs
Definition
(adjective) Demonstrating aggression and a willingness to fight.
Example
The athlete’s bellicose attitude made him feared—and often penalized.
Fun Fact
From Latin bellum, meaning “war,” bellicose describes people who don’t just argue—they thrive on confrontation. It’s stronger than “aggressive,” and often shows up in political commentary, historical writing, or sports journalism. You’ll see it used when someone doesn’t just fight back—they lead with hostility, often as a strategy.
(adjective) Relating to or involving strong, controversial argument or debate; characterized by aggressive dispute or refutation
The professor’s polemical lecture on economic inequality divided the auditorium cleanly between those who cheered and those who walked out.
Polemical derives from the Greek polemikos, meaning “warlike” or “hostile,” from polemos (“war”). It entered English in the 17th century as a theological and philosophical term, describing fierce written disputes between religious factions — before broadening to cover any form of aggressive intellectual combat.