Belligerent. bel. lig. er. ent. [buhl LIJ uhr unt]. adjective. [from Latin belliger, to wage war].
- Warring. 2. Having an aggressive or hostile attitude.
In which sentences is belligerent used correctly? Check all that apply.
A. The cheerful teenager is always belligerent.
B. The belligerent countries at last decided to sign a peace treaty.
C. The belligerent girl talked back to a teacher.
D. The two days of vacation made them feel belligerent and relaxed.
E. The United Nations sent a diplomat to the belligerent country
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct sentences are B, C, and E.
Here’s an explanation for each:
Sentence A: The cheerful teenager is always belligerent.
This sentence uses “belligerent” incorrectly. “Belligerent” means having a hostile or aggressive attitude, which is the opposite of cheerful. Therefore, it does not fit with the description of a cheerful teenager. The use of “belligerent” here is contradictory and doesn’t align with its meaning.
Sentence B: The belligerent countries at last decided to sign a peace treaty.
This sentence uses “belligerent” correctly. It refers to countries that are at war or engaged in hostile actions. The phrase “belligerent countries” suggests that these nations have been in conflict, and the peace treaty indicates that they are now working toward ending that conflict. This is a proper use of the word “belligerent.”
Sentence C: The belligerent girl talked back to a teacher.
This sentence uses “belligerent” correctly. The girl is described as having a hostile or aggressive attitude, which aligns with the meaning of “belligerent.” Talking back to a teacher in an argumentative or defiant manner can be seen as an aggressive behavior, so this sentence accurately describes a belligerent attitude.
Sentence D: The two days of vacation made them feel belligerent and relaxed.
This sentence uses “belligerent” incorrectly. “Belligerent” refers to aggression or hostility, but it is not typically used to describe how someone feels relaxed. Feeling relaxed contradicts the idea of being belligerent. The use of both “belligerent” and “relaxed” in the same sentence creates an inconsistency in meaning.
Sentence E: The United Nations sent a diplomat to the belligerent country.
This sentence uses “belligerent” correctly. It refers to a country involved in conflict or war. The United Nations often intervenes in situations where countries are in conflict, and sending a diplomat is a typical action to resolve such issues. Therefore, “belligerent” is appropriately used to describe the country in this context.
In conclusion, “belligerent” describes hostility or engagement in war, so it fits correctly in sentences B, C, and E but not in sentences A and D.