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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 Teixeira's decisive performance suggests potential future opportunities in Misfits Boxing or bare-knuckle promotions, while concerns were raised about Rua taking further punishment in striking contests. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The case against the Tates That image of impunity shattered on July 18, when US Marshals arrested the brothers outside a bare-knuckle boxing match in Miami on an extradition request from British authorities. — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 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
  • Power, in-your-face attitude, and urgency are what make half of the Pretenders’ still-extraordinary 1978 debut slap.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Last seen in 2023, the in-your-face design is returning once again.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of in-your-face
Adjective
  • Earlier in the day, UAE Team Emirates’ Kevin Vermaerke once again made his way into the day’s breakaway, the 25-year-old American having proven himself one of the most combative riders in the race after team leader Tadej Pogačar’s withdrawal.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Suno, which has had a highly combative relationship with the music industry in recent years.
    — Jem Aswad, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of combative
Adjective
  • In 2005, the Cage was opened by Ross (the Boss) Friedman, a founding member of the pugnacious and seminal punk band the Dictators, stalwarts of the early CBGB scene.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of pugnacious
Adjective
  • Ziwe’s trademark interview style is both confrontational and comedic.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
  • In a rare moment of confrontational summitry that went viral, Teodoro decided to read the document aloud in front of the live audience.
    — Huiyee Chiew, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 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
  • Richard Olenick and Juan Mejia were more than halfway through the flight when a man two rows behind them in the first-class section started to become belligerent, Olenick said.
    — Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Bailey said the man with the gun was well known in the building for being belligerent and showing off his weapon.
    — Ellen Schmidt, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 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 17 Sep. 2026.

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