Truculent
Etymology
From Latin truculentus, "fierce, savage," from trux (stem truc-), "fierce, wild, harsh." It entered English in the sixteenth century meaning cruel or savage, and softened over time to today’s sense of quarrelsome aggressiveness. The ferocity is still there, but scaled down from savagery to sheer combativeness.
adjective · /TRUHK-yuh-lunt/
Aggressively defiant, eager to argue or fight.
What it names
A belligerent, spoiling-for-a-fight hostility — bad temper that leans into conflict rather than avoiding it.
Example
He grew truculent whenever the subject of the merger came up, daring anyone to disagree.
Related idea
Belligerent is broadly warlike or hostile; truculent adds a note of sullen, defiant aggression that seems to want a fight.