- 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) Full of knots; or, figuratively, extremely difficult and complex, with no straightforward solution.
The lawyers spent weeks untangling the knotty language buried deep in the old property deed.