Warmonger

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈwɔː.mʌŋ.ɡə/

Definitions

1. A person who encourages or advocates for military conflict and violence between nations or groups
2. An individual who actively promotes or incites armed conflict and violence for political or personal gain
3. A person who deliberately instigates or agitates for military warfare and hostilities between peoples or states

Etymology: "Warmonger" is a compound of two plain English words: "war" and "monger." The first is the familiar Old English word for armed conflict. The second is the more interesting half. In Old English, "mangere" or a related form meant a dealer or trader, and it survives in older compounds such as "fishmonger," "ironmonger," and "costermonger," all of which name someone who sells a particular commodity. "Monger" came to carry a faintly disapproving tone, suggesting someone who peddles something rather than making it. Putting the two together produces a trader in war, a person who deals in conflict as if it were merchandise. Like "fishmonger," the compound is transparent: the meaning is built directly from its parts, with no sound change or semantic leap needed to explain it. The word is formed in English from native materials rather than borrowed from another language.

Synonyms: belligerent, militarist, hawk

Antonyms: pacifist, dove, peacemaker