bare-knuckle

adjective or adverb

bare-knuck·​le ˈber-ˈnə-kəl How to pronounce bare-knuckle (audio)
variants or less commonly bare-knuckled or bare-knuckles
1
: not using boxing gloves
champion bare-knuckle prizefighter of EnglandDennis Craig
when men fought bare-knuckle
2
: having a fierce unrelenting character
bare-knuckle politics

Examples of bare-knuckle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As the primary approaches, Martinez has unveiled the bare-knuckle tactics common in his political base of Southeast L.A. County. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 To replace him, Mr. Morris facilitated the hiring of the veteran Washington scandal lawyer Abbe Lowell, who is known for bare-knuckle tactics more akin to what Mr. Morris was advocating. Michael S. Schmidt, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024 Mullica said such bare-knuckle tactics aren’t a way to win votes, much less friends, in the building. Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2024 With Triller, the only part that I was really actively involved in and still am is the Fight Club and bare-knuckle boxing, which is now the fastest growing combat sport. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 31 Jan. 2024 The brick building once housed mobsters and bare-knuckle boxers. Alex Vadukul, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2023 For years, the Wagner group has protected the leadership of the Central African Republic with bare-knuckle security enforcement, weaponry and propaganda campaigns. Elian Peltier Jim Huylebroek, New York Times, 26 Nov. 2023 Faced with a government-funding deadline this weekend, House lawmakers of both parties agreed Tuesday to back a short-term Republican plan that extends the status quo until early next year, rather than stage another bare-knuckle fight now over spending and policy priorities. Paul Kiernan, WSJ, 16 Nov. 2023 Gracie’s first professional fight was Vale Tudo — a no-rules, bare-knuckle MMA bout — with King Zulu in 1980. Kevin Maurer, Rolling Stone, 12 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bare-knuckle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bare-knuckle was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near bare-knuckle

Cite this Entry

“Bare-knuckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bare-knuckle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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