# warlike

/ˈwɔɹˌɫaɪk/ (US) · /wˈɔːlaɪk/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/warlike
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

liking war or fighting, or looking ready to fight.

For teachers: disposed toward war or armed conflict; aggressive or belligerent in character or appearance. Often describes nations, groups, or behaviour rather than individuals in modern use.

## Examples

- They avoid his warlike mood during games.
- The two neighbours exchanged warlike threats after the fence dispute turned angry.
- Historians still debate whether the empire's warlike expansion reflected genuine security fears or simply the ambitions of its generals.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.