truculent

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈtɹʌk.jə.lənt/ UK /ˈtɹʌk.jʊ.lənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #100573

Meanings

1

adj
defiantly aggressive

The shadow minister gave a truculent speech against the new government.
2

adj
Cruel or savage.

The truculent soldiers gave us a steely-eyed stare.
3

adj
Defiant or uncompromising.

In her turn, Helen Burns asked me to explain, and I proceeded forthwith to pour out, in my own way, the tale of my sufferings and resentments. Bitter and truculent when excited, I spoke as I felt, without reserve or softening.
4

adj
Eager or quick to argue, fight or start a conflict.

She might pity herself, but he must not pity her. She did not want any quarrel; she blamed him for wanting one, but she could not help assuming a truculent attitude.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · cruel or savage. animalistic barbarian barbaric barbarious barbarous bowelless brutal brutish

3 adj · defiant or uncompromising. adamant ardentbent onbloody-mindedbullheaded certain chronic confirmed

4 adj · eager or quick to argue,... aggressive antagonisticassaultivebellicose belligerent combative martialmilitaristic

Word family

Related forms belligerent truculencetruculencytruculently

Etymology

First attested circa 1540, from Middle French, from Latin truculentus (“fierce, savage”), from trux (“fierce, wild”).

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# truculent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɹʌk.jə.lənt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtɹʌk.jʊ.lənt/
**Frequency rank:** 100573

## Meanings
1. defiantly aggressive
2. Cruel or savage.
3. Defiant or uncompromising.
4. Eager or quick to argue, fight or start a conflict.

## Examples
- The shadow minister gave a truculent speech against the new government.
- The truculent soldiers gave us a steely-eyed stare.
- In her turn, Helen Burns asked me to explain, and I proceeded forthwith to pour out, in my own way, the tale of my sufferings and resentments. Bitter and truculent when excited, I spoke as I felt, without reserve or softening.
- She might pity herself, but he must not pity her. She did not want any quarrel; she blamed him for wanting one, but she could not help assuming a truculent attitude.

## Synonyms
- animalistic
- barbarian
- barbaric
- barbarious
- barbarous
- bowelless
- brutal
- brutish
- adamant
- ardent
- bent on
- bloody-minded

## Related Forms
- belligerent
- truculence
- truculency
- truculently

## Etymology
First attested circa 1540, from Middle French, from Latin truculentus (“fierce, savage”), from trux (“fierce, wild”).

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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