as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
a seafarer's legend that the remote island was inhabited by a warlike and uncivilized tribe
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Recent Examples of warlike
In daytime, younger men engage in ferocious warlike dances and combative ceremonial dialogues that spark more commentary from the smiling oldsters.
—
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024
The inclusion of protest songs and the desire of the local community together to fight off the invaders is imbued with warlike determination and revolutionary zeal.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 17 May 2024
The group, which the ADL says emphasizes physical fitness and a warlike mentality, has focused mostly on disrupting events oriented toward the LGBTQ community, such as Drag Queen Story Hour readings for children.
—Tavleen Tarrant, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2024
After a fiery speech, Mishima—obsessed with physical beauty and warlike vigor—killed himself with a sword.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for warlike 
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024
The inclusion of protest songs and the desire of the local community together to fight off the invaders is imbued with warlike determination and revolutionary zeal.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 17 May 2024
The group, which the ADL says emphasizes physical fitness and a warlike mentality, has focused mostly on disrupting events oriented toward the LGBTQ community, such as Drag Queen Story Hour readings for children.
—Tavleen Tarrant, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2024
After a fiery speech, Mishima—obsessed with physical beauty and warlike vigor—killed himself with a sword.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for warlike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warlike
Adjective
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Take London, which was a clear hotspot (and will continue to be, for some time): Mandarin Oriental opened its second spot in the capital, barely minutes in a limo from its existing Knightsbridge perch, while Maybourne’s soon-to-be aggressive expansion was teed up by the arrival of the sleek Emory.—
Christopher Cameron,
Robb Report,
11 Jan. 2025
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The state has been one of the most aggressive collectors of income taxes paid based on the number of workdays high earners spend there.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In any case, the militant Islamist group is no longer the same organization that launched the October 7, 2023, massacre.—
Hussein Ibish,
The Atlantic,
19 Jan. 2025
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Palestinian statehood remains very difficult question for Israel to answer, pushed further away by the October 7 attacks and 15 months of brutal war in Gaza against Palestinian militant group Hamas.—
Ellie Cook,
Newsweek,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Both saw themselves as outsiders in a hostile environment.—
Ruth Margalit,
The New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2025
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In public, her tics are often met with stares and whispers — or at worst, hostile confrontations — from nearby strangers.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
13 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near warlike
Cite this Entry
“Warlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warlike. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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