Synonyms for truculent
- adjective
Most common
savage fierce ruthless ferocious aggressive pugnacious obstreperous
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Savage — cruel or savage
savage, ferocious, ruthless, fierce, brutal, cruel, barbarous, brutish, blood-thirsty, wolfish, nasty, remorseless, sadistic, sanguinary, uncivilized, uncivilised UK, barbarian, inhuman, barbaric, diabolic, diabolical, fell, uncouth
2. Aggressive — eager or quick to argue, fight or start a conflict
aggressive, pugnacious, belligerent, bellicose, combative, quarrelsome, antagonistic, warlike, contentious, militaristic, martial
3. Obstreperous — defiant or uncompromising
obstreperous, defiant, stubborn, grumpy, inflexible, unyielding, bloody-minded, obstinate, recalcitrant, intractable, dogged, refractory, sullen dated
4. Vituperative — violent; rude; scathing; savage; harsh
Definitions
- adj. 1
Cruel or savage.
The truculent soldiers gave us a steely-eyed stare.
- adj. 2
Defiant or uncompromising.
- adj. 3
Eager or quick to argue, fight or start a conflict.
- adj. 4
Violent; rude; scathing; savage; harsh.
Related words
- Word family
- truculence truculency truculently
Example sentences
- savage There are still some savage tribes on that island.
- fierce One reporter said he looked like a fierce bulldog.
- ruthless The gang is lead by a ruthless criminal called Tom.
- ferocious Layla's house was devoured by a ferocious fire.
- aggressive They are a bunch of inept and aggressive cretins..
- pugnacious Sami was a pugnacious businessman.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| truculent | steady | |
| savage | rising | |
| fierce | rising | |
| ruthless | rising | |
| ferocious | rising | |
| aggressive | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- fell1
- 5 letters
- nasty2, cruel2
- 6 letters
- brutal2, savage2, fierce1, grumpy2, dogged1, sullen2
- 7 letters
- martial2, inhuman3, defiant3, caustic2, warlike2, brutish2, uncouth2, acerbic3, wolfish
- 8 letters
- stubborn2, ruthless2, barbaric3, sadistic3, diabolic
- 9 letters
- barbarian4, ferocious3, combative3, obstinate3, vitriolic4, barbarous3, bellicose3
- 10 letters
- aggressive3, diabolical5, inflexible4, refractory4, unyielding3, pugnacious3, sanguinary
- 11 letters
- contentious3, belligerent4, intractable4, uncivilized4, remorseless3, quarrelsome3, uncivilised
- 12 letters
- antagonistic5, militaristic5, recalcitrant4, vituperative5, obstreperous4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (nasty2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- truculent
- Español
- truculento