as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
a movie reviewer who is spirited, even pugnacious, when defending her opinions
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pugnacious
The pugnacious response followed Trump’s surprising comments Tuesday that Ukraine was responsible for Russia’s invasion of the country three years ago.
—
Kaylah Jackson, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2025
Meanwhile, White continues to shape the UFC in his pugnacious image.
—Matt Craig, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2025
Strangers in the Night Frank Sinatra, 1967 Ol’ Blue Eyes at perhaps his most elegantly pugnacious.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2025
His pugnacious media brands tend to resist any whiff of weakness or wrongdoing.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pugnacious
Kaylah Jackson, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2025
Meanwhile, White continues to shape the UFC in his pugnacious image.
—Matt Craig, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2025
Strangers in the Night Frank Sinatra, 1967 Ol’ Blue Eyes at perhaps his most elegantly pugnacious.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2025
His pugnacious media brands tend to resist any whiff of weakness or wrongdoing.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pugnacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pugnacious
Adjective
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Though McBride — who has been subject to many aggressive comments from House Republicans since joining Congress in January — attempted to move on with the hearing, Massachusetts Rep. William Keating refused to let Self's disrespectful comment slide.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
12 Mar. 2025
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As Forbes previously reported, Flock has an aggressive expansion strategy, which has sometimes led it to risking breaches of the law.—
Thomas Brewster,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The militant group has said that the move would affect the remaining hostages as well.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2025
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In December, a coalition of opposition fighters led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took over cities and eventually Damascus as regime forces retreated.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Amid the ongoing negotiations over a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia amid their ongoing war, Trump has spoken favorably of Putin while having a sometimes openly hostile relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
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Bill Belichick's 24-year-old cheerleader girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, posted a screenshot of a hostile exchange with an Instagram user who criticized the couple's relationship Friday.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Keller school board has reversed course on a contentious proposal to split the district in two after backlash including, among other reactions, allegations and lawsuits related to possible violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act.—
Cody Copeland and,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Mar. 2025
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The scene turned so contentious and hostile that security had to escort Edwards from the building.—
Lalee Ibssa,
ABC News,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pugnacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pugnacious. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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