bare-knuckle

adjective or adverb

bare-knuck·​le ˈber-ˈnə-kəl How to pronounce bare-knuckle (audio)
variants or less commonly bare-knuckled or bare-knuckles
1
: not using boxing gloves
champion bare-knuckle prizefighter of EnglandDennis Craig
when men fought bare-knuckle
2
: having a fierce unrelenting character
bare-knuckle politics

Examples of bare-knuckle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The new system was at least partly intended to bring about the end of the London Prize Fighting Rules which dictated the structure of bare-knuckle contests in earlier decades. Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 Inside the bare-knuckle legal brawl between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Martina Ibáñez-Baldor, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2025 The licensing agreement with the bare-knuckle boxing promoter also marks the first live event series for Vice TV, which kicks off with the BYB 37 Denver Brawl IV on Feb. 22. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2025 This morning’s must reads (Joel C Ryan; Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press) Inside the bare-knuckle legal brawl between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bare-knuckle

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bare-knuckle was in 1882

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Cite this Entry

“Bare-knuckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bare-knuckle. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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