truculent

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Chariot  #504586  Thu, 24 Apr 08 04:02 AM

What is the difference between truculent, belligerent, aggressive? I checked a few dictioaries. But i wasn't able to figure out the difference. Thanks for your help.

  
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Marius Hancu  #504758  Thu, 24 Apr 08 12:00 PM
 Truculent has several meanings, including the above. See examples: 

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trucu·lent  

 1 : feeling or evincing savage ferocity : CRUEL, FIERCE <the fangs of these powerful truculent brutes -- W.H.Hudson died 1922> <the swordfish ... truculent and fearless -- F.C.Lane>


2 : possessing an inherent capacity for destruction : DEADLY <the sleek truculent ships steamed along blackly behind their guns -- Ira Wolfert> <go out and inspect the truculent bomb -- Christian Science Monitor>


3 : scathingly harsh : VITRIOLIC, VITUPERATIVE <a truculent document devoted mostly to vilifying -- Time> <when every English traveler ... published a volume of truculent disparagement -- V.L.Parrington>


4 : aggressively self-assertive : antagonistic to compromise : BELLIGERENT, PUGNACIOUS <as truculent as a small boy who thinks his big brother can lick anybody -- Time> <tribute is paid to ... his rather truculent skill as a negotiator -- Norman MacKenzie>

 http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com

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Marius Hancu  #504761  Thu, 24 Apr 08 12:04 PM

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truculent (adj.)
 
 

(pronounced TRUHK-yoo-lint) began by meaning “savage” but has come now mainly to mean “belligerent, as in He was truculent and spoiling for a fight.

 

http://www.bartleby.com/68/49/6149.html

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