pugilist

noun

pu·​gi·​list ˈpyü-jə-list How to pronounce pugilist (audio)
Synonyms of pugilistnext
: fighter
especially : a professional boxer

Synonyms

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Examples of pugilist in a Sentence

a pugilist with the trademark of the boxing ring: a nose that showed signs of having been broken on more than one occasion
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.
He was swept up in the swirl of decade-defining events surrounding Muhammad Ali as well as Joe Frazier and other high-wattage pugilists of the 1970s. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 22 Mar. 2025 The true-life sports biopic unleashes Leo as Alice, the loud, over-the-top matriarch of a large Boston family and manager mom to Micky Ward, a championship boxing contender trained by his drug-addict pugilist half-brother Dicky. — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025 An odd corps of swampy Washington DC pugilists are ready to engage, likely supplemented by political pressure from shipbuilding companies. — Craig Hooper, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025 The 36-year-old Irish martial arts fighter announced his intentions to take on the 29-year-old pugilist Tuesday. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for pugilist

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1740, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pugilist was circa 1740

Browse Nearby Words

pugilism
pugilist
pugil stick
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pugilist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pugilist. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

pugilist

noun
pu·​gi·​list ˈpyü-jə-ləst How to pronounce pugilist (audio)
: boxer entry 1
pugilistic
ˌpyü-jə-ˈlis-tik
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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