pug

1 of 4

noun (1)

Synonyms of pugnext
1
: any of a breed of small sturdy compact dogs of Asian origin with a smooth, short coat, tightly curled tail, short muzzle, and broad wrinkled face
2
a
b
: a close knot or coil of hair : bun

Illustration of pug

Illustration of pug
  • pug 1

pug

2 of 4

verb

pugged; pugging

transitive verb

: to work and mix (a substance, such as clay) when wet especially to make more homogeneous and easier to handle (as in throwing or molding wares)

pug

3 of 4

noun (2)

pug

4 of 4

noun (3)

Examples of pug in a Sentence

Noun (2) a retired pug with battered ears and swollen knuckles
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The black pug, named Shadow, was found trapped at the bottom of a deep hole at a construction site in Northern California on June 16, according to the Marin County Fire Department. Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026 Soon my entire feed was pugs and poodles and beagles and portmanteau blends with absurd names like golden doodle and cavapoo. Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 Breeds with breathing issues — including bulldogs, pugs, boxers, Boston terriers and Persian cats — are also more susceptible to heat illness, state health officials said. Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026 Sleepy pugs and a return Rinker’s family stayed in a Huntington Beach hotel room with one bed. Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pug

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

obsolete pug hobgoblin, monkey

Verb

origin unknown

Noun (2)

by shortening & alteration from pugilist

Noun (3)

Hindi & Urdu pag foot, step

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1843, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1858, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pug was in 1751

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pug. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

pug

noun
ˈpəg
: any of a breed of small sturdy compact dogs having a short coat, tightly curled tail, and broad wrinkled face

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