Truculent: meaning, definitions and examples

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truculent

 

[ หˆtrสŒkjสŠlษ™nt ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

behaving aggressively

Eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant. Showing a readiness or desire to fight or argue.

Synonyms

aggressive, bellicose, belligerent, hostile.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
truculent

Used when describing someone who is aggressively defiant or eagerly quick to argue or fight. This word often carries a strong negative connotation.

  • The truculent teenager was always ready to argue with his parents.
  • His truculent behavior scared away many of his colleagues.
belligerent

Typically used to describe a hostile or warlike attitude. It can refer to nations or individuals who are eager to engage in conflict. It generally has a negative connotation.

  • The belligerent customer argued with the store manager for hours.
  • The countries were in a belligerent stance, ready for conflict.
hostile

Used to describe someone who is openly unfriendly, antagonistic, or opposed to something. This word usually carries a negative connotation.

  • The hostile neighbor prevented anyone from using the shared fence.
  • Her hostile attitude made it difficult for her to make friends.
aggressive

Generally used to describe someone who is forceful, determined, and often confrontational. It can be neutral in some contexts, but often has a negative connotation when used to describe people.

  • The aggressive salesman wouldn't take no for an answer.
  • She has an aggressive approach to achieving her goals, which sometimes intimidates others.
bellicose

Used to describe people or actions that are eager to fight or warlike. This word has a strong negative connotation and is often used in formal or literary contexts.

  • The bellicose leader threatened neighboring countries with war.
  • His bellicose rhetoric stirred tensions among the crowd.

Examples of usage

  • He had a truculent expression on his face.
  • The truculent customer refused to leave the store.
  • She was known for her truculent attitude towards authority figures.
Context #2 | Adjective

harsh or cruel

Fierce; cruel; savagely brutal. Showing ferocity or aggression.

Synonyms

ferocious, inhumane, merciless, ruthless.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
truculent

Typically describes a person or behavior that is aggressively defiant or belligerent, often willing to fight. It carries a negative connotation.

  • His truculent attitude made it difficult for the team to work together
  • The truculent teenager constantly argued with teachers
ferocious

Used to describe something that is savagely fierce or violent. It can be used for animals, people, or situations.

  • The ferocious lion prowled the savanna
  • The storm was so ferocious that it uprooted trees and destroyed homes
ruthless

Describes a person or action that is willing to be cruel or harsh to achieve their aims, without consideration for others' feelings or needs.

  • The ruthless businessman cut jobs to increase profits
  • Her rise to power was marked by ruthless decisions
merciless

Describes someone or something that shows no mercy or pity, often causing suffering. It has a negative connotation.

  • The merciless heat of the desert made survival difficult
  • The merciless invaders showed no pity towards the townspeople
inhumane

Refers to actions or behaviors that lack compassion, especially towards suffering or vulnerable beings. It is often used in discussing cruelty.

  • Keeping animals in such small cages is inhumane
  • The dictator's inhumane treatment of prisoners was condemned by the international community

Examples of usage

  • The truculent dictator ruled with an iron fist.
  • Her truculent remarks left everyone feeling uneasy.
  • The dog's truculent behavior made it difficult to approach.

Translations

Translations of the word "truculent" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น truculento

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค‰เค—เฅเคฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช streitsรผchtig

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ garang

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฐะณั€ะตัะธะฒะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ agresywny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅฅฝๆˆฆ็š„ใช

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท agressif

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ agresivo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท kavgacฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ณต๊ฒฉ์ ์ธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุนุฏูˆุงู†ูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ bojovnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ bojechtivรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅฅฝๆ–—็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ prepirljiv

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รกrรกsargjarn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐะณั€ะตััะธะฒั‚ั–

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒแƒ’แƒ แƒ”แƒกแƒ˜แƒฃแƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tษ™cavรผzkar

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ agresivo

Etymology

The word 'truculent' originates from the Latin word 'truculentus', meaning fierce or savage. It entered the English language in the mid-16th century. Over time, 'truculent' has come to be associated with aggressive or hostile behavior, reflecting its roots in describing fierceness and cruelty.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,152, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.