bare-knuckle

adjective

variants also bare-knuckled or bare-knuckles
Definition of bare-knucklenext
as in gladiatorial

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bare-knuckle Such a high-profile bout involving McGregor is predicted to become the largest bare-knuckle event ever, further amplifying the sport's growing popularity. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026 The Tates, who hold dual US and UK citizenship, were arrested by the US Marshals Service on July 18 while on their way to a bare-knuckle boxing event in Miami. — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 21 July 2026 Hassabis, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2024 for pioneering the use of AI in protein prediction, is based in London and has largely avoided the viper pit created by the bare-knuckle AI race playing out in Silicon Valley. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 15 July 2026 Kerr, a bare-knuckle boxer and father who was in his 30s, boarded a Jet2 plane from Larnaca in Cyprus on Sunday, June 21, with his girlfriend, the outlets shared. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026 Surviving and thriving during 50 years of bare-knuckle Massachusetts politics is proof of that. — Jon Keller, CBS News, 15 June 2026 The spectacle brought together two bare-knuckle brands that have been intertwined for years, and was symbolic of the pugilistic moment in American politics. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 June 2026 California’s decision to redraw its congressional map to flip as many as five House seats to Democrats in November is poised to play a big and potentially decisive role in the nation’s broader, bare-knuckle fight for control of Congress. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 For Republicans, despite victories in a bare-knuckle redistricting war, the House already looks lost. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bare-knuckle
  1. gladiatorial
  2. in-your-face
  3. combative
  4. pugnacious
  5. confrontational
  6. take-no-prisoners
  7. belligerent
  8. blood-and-guts
Adjective
  • The mainly movie channel ventured into original programming with the tale of a Thracian soldier who is condemned to fight in Rome's gladiatorial arenas, only to become a champion and vow to bring down the Empire.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Erivo plays a British defense barrister who exudes enviable brilliance in navigating the ruthless and gladiatorial London courtrooms.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 7 July 2026
Definition of gladiatorial
Adjective
  • Last seen in 2023, the in-your-face design is returning once again.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Logan Pass to Granite Park The Highline Trail wastes no time delivering in-your-face scenery.
    — Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of in-your-face
Adjective
  • Her combative and energetic style made her one of the administration's most recognizable public faces.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The race has already inflamed tensions within the Democratic Party over how to energize liberal voters eager for unapologetic, combative candidates while not alienating independents and moderates who have been key to winning in battlegrounds.
    — Matt Brown, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of combative
Adjective
  • Though less overtly pugnacious than the other main far-right cabinet member, Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, with whom he is often compared, Smotrich has used his time in office to ramp up settlement building.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Indeed, his rising profile as a pugnacious public commentator has arguably exceeded his influence on Wall Street.
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 20 July 2026
Definition of pugnacious
Adjective
  • Although the scenes in the past consist of long conversations, that dialogue is provocative and confrontational, in ways that make what’s happening in Silo 18 feel somnambulant.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But many Madrid supporters — and Perez — accepted Mourinho’s ultra-confrontational approach.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of confrontational
Adjective
  • All eight club tracks follow the same basic template, one cribbed from Midwestern producers like Boo Williams and Paul Johnson, as well as early, ravey Daft Punk and, in particular, the take-no-prisoners cutups of Germany’s Soundhack.
    — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026
  • And Childress got an Earnhardt descendant in Busch — a driver who some considered a villain for his take-no-prisoners style, a father, an all-time great who for the longest time couldn’t win the biggest race of them all.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 June 2026
Definition of take-no-prisoners
Adjective
  • And in August 2008, Russia went to war with neighboring Georgia, showing the belligerent new face of Putin’s foreign policy.
    — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Trump’s belligerent approach to dealing with Canada marks an extraordinary departure from the traditionally cooperative relationship between the two countries.
    — Rob Gillies, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of belligerent
Adjective
  • However, fighters in the UFC seem to get caught up in trying to appease the casuals who can only appreciate blood-and-guts wars.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Dawn of the Dead's flood of blood-and-guts is among the most memorable in film history, if only for the unnaturally vivid shades of red.
    — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Definition of blood-and-guts

Browse Nearby Words

barefaced
bare-knuckle
barely
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Cite this Entry

“Bare-knuckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bare-knuckle. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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