as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
not a reasoned discussion but a shouting match between gladiatorial pundits from opposite ends of the political spectrum
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gladiatorial
Adjective
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Instead, her life was turned upside down last week after President Donald Trump’s administration began instituting mass layoffs as part of an aggressive effort to trim the federal workforce.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025 -
Beef, coffee and orange juice are among groceries with higher prices, but eggs are uniquely affected by the aggressive strain of avian flu, which has strained supply.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The militant group accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement by targeting refugees with airstrikes, delaying the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, and restricting humanitarian aid.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
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The militant group also accused Israel of delaying the entry of essential medicines and hospital supplies, as well as not allowing tents, prefabricated houses, fuel, or rubble-removing machines into Gaza.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Leonard Peltier, one of the surviving leaders of the American Indian Movement, has been in prison for 50 years following a contentious conviction.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
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Coming off a contentious last couple weeks for his film’s awards campaign, Audiard had a more light-hearted opportunity to reflect on his Best Picture nominee.—
Vincent Perella,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But several of Barker’s best moments and best performances have come in high-pressure games or in hostile atmospheres.—
Oliver Kay,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
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But what Briner sees as a way of enhancing opportunities for people and communities – defined in the law as social equity applicants – was viewed as hostile to those same applicants during testimony last week.—
Peter Callaghan,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The kitchen remains bloody and agonistic, demanding the preparation of yet another family meal.—
E. Tammy Kim,
The New Yorker,
14 July 2023
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The agonistic, Faulknerian circumstances fill the house with awful silences.—
Matthew Gavin Frank,
Harper's Magazine,
21 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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Freyja, however, is a more warlike goddess, and even has a part in selecting warriors for her hall in the afterlife.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
2 Jan. 2025
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Some characters die violently in a warlike atmosphere, and the remaining ones struggle with their losses.—
Common Sense Media,
Washington Post,
12 July 2024
Adjective
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Under cross-examination, Ephron became combative and defensive, especially when asked about the $30 million lawsuit.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
3 Feb. 2025
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Disclosure of the grants came the same day that Patel was grilled in a combative Senate confirmation hearing, including about his past comments praising the rioters who attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN,
11 Feb. 2025
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Thesaurus Entries Near gladiatorial
Cite this Entry
“Gladiatorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladiatorial. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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