truculent
Say it: TRUK-yuh-lunt /ˈtrʌkjʊl(ə)nt/ · adjective
What “truculent” means
Aggressive and eager to argue or fight.
More precisely: Eager to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.
Example: “The truculent customer demanded a refund before he'd even opened the box.”
When to use it
A formal, disapproving word for someone who seems ready to turn even a small disagreement into a confrontation.
Similar words
belligerent, combative, defiant
Where it comes from
From Latin truculentus, from trux, truc-, 'fierce'.
Quick check
Asked politely to move his bicycle, a man squares up to the caretaker and immediately starts an angry argument. He is…
truculent or assertive?
Show the answer
truculent
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