truculent
adjective·/ˈtrʌk.jə.lənt/
Aggressively defiant, eager to fight, or at least to bare teeth at the world. Truculent is outward-facing, hostility as stance.
The dog’s truculent posture was mostly noise, but the noise was persuasive.
Etymology
From Latin truculentus “savage, fierce,” related to trux “grim.” The word carries a hard, bristling mouthfeel: consonants like clenched jaw.
Related Words
pugnaciousinclined to fight; close kin
bellicosewarlike; often more political
mordicantbiting in speech; truculence of tongue
intransigentunyielding; truculence without the snarl