✅ Resolved describes something that has been explained or decided (He was resolved to go away for a week).

✅ Settled describes something that has been decided or agreed on (When we felt settled about who would do which chores, we didn’t fight as much).

✅ Both of these words describe things that have been decided, agreed on, or figured out.

✅ Resolved emphasizes a sense of determination, whereas settled emphasizes coming to an agreement (The question about who is in charge of food is settled).

✅ Hostile means that a person is antagonistic, unfriendly, or inhospitable (My hostile neighbor softened after a while).

✅ Belligerent means that a person is hostile in an aggressive way (The customer was belligerent and refused to leave).

✅ Both of these terms suggest someone who behaves in an unfriendly and often angry or cantankerous way.

✅ Belligerent suggests a level of active aggression or nastiness that is not present in hostile.

✅ A pledge is something that is given as security for the payment of a debt and that will be forfeited if the debt is not paid (The watch served as a pledge to secure the loan).

✅ A surety is a promise given in order to protect against loss or nonpayment of debt (The security deposit served as a surety against any damages).

✅ Both of these terms can refer to collateral or simply to a solemn promise or assurance of something not monetary.