as in boxer
one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists
a pugilist with the trademark of the boxing ring: a nose that showed signs of having been broken on more than one occasion
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Recent Examples of pugilist
An amateur pugilist who Jean-Luc collaborated with previously, before the guy joined the army and was stationed in Algeria, is recruited to star in it.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
Why Exit Planning Can’t Wait Returning to our boxing metaphor, a big plot point of Rocky IV centers on the pugilist’s unease with complacency.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
She is next slated to appear in the boxing drama Christy, based on the life of real professional pugilist Christy Martin.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 14 Aug. 2025
The fitness center even has a full-size boxing ring where a champion pugilist offers private lessons.
—Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pugilist
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
Why Exit Planning Can’t Wait Returning to our boxing metaphor, a big plot point of Rocky IV centers on the pugilist’s unease with complacency.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
She is next slated to appear in the boxing drama Christy, based on the life of real professional pugilist Christy Martin.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 14 Aug. 2025
The fitness center even has a full-size boxing ring where a champion pugilist offers private lessons.
—Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pugilist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pugilist
Noun
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Fuqua had been pleased to discover, during the research for his film, that Mandela was an amateur boxer.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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The card will also feature several other San Diego-area boxers, including super lightweights Daniel Morales (8-0, 5 KOs) and Angel Juan Estrada (12-1-1, 9 KOs).—
Ivan Carter,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Tokyo is also developing a next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy for deployment in the mid-2030s, part of a strategy to share development costs and gain access to new technology.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
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Northrop Grumman’s shares F/A-XX design clues The F/A-XX program calls for a sixth-generation fighter to succeed the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and complement the F-35C Lightning II.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pugilist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pugilist. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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