as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
not a reasoned discussion but a shouting match between gladiatorial pundits from opposite ends of the political spectrum
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gladiatorial
At the conference, Farage appeared onstage in a blaze of pyrotechnics and gladiatorial chords.
—
Sam Knight, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
Under his rule, the teens are pitted against each other (and other supes) in gladiatorial-style combat.
—EW.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Sam Knight, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
Under his rule, the teens are pitted against each other (and other supes) in gladiatorial-style combat.
—EW.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gladiatorial
Adjective
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The offensive line had five presnap penalties, and allowed four sacks and 11 tackles for loss to an aggressive Lobos defense.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Oct. 2025
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Not only does the quarterback need to be accurate and aggressive, but the play caller needs to dial up ways to create advantageous one-on-one situations and the receivers have to win those chances.—
Derrik Klassen,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But Afghan-Pakistan relations have soured amid an uptick in militant violence against Pakistan.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
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By this time, however, Hamas had already begun to eclipse secular rivals in popularity and Palestinian elections held in 2006 led to a victory for the Islamist militant group, sparking clashes with the PA's leading Fatah faction and Hamas' eventual takeover of the territory the following year.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Diversity, equity, and inclusion has taken on a life of its own politically, and as with many contentious issues, the state has issued legal guidance on how it must be addressed.—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Oct. 2025
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The first round of talks between the two sides was contentious.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In response, Stanton told him to go away, using an expletive, and sent a series of hostile messages, as well as one asking to meet in person, the complaint alleges.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
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But in the best-of-seven ALCS, the Jays needed four starters, so there was Scherzer, making his first appearance of the postseason in a hostile environment with his team needing a win to tie the series with the Seattle Mariners at two games apiece.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Many owners in the city feel stuck—the dog is trigger stacked from the urban environment and more likely to have agonistic reactions towards other dogs as a result.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Sep. 2025
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The kitchen remains bloody and agonistic, demanding the preparation of yet another family meal.—
E. Tammy Kim,
The New Yorker,
14 July 2023
Adjective
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Meanwhile, a warlike species would probably just wipe us out.—
Matthew Hutson,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
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His warlike actions in Iran, despite campaign promises to the contrary, blatantly bypassed the need to gain approval from the legislative branch of government.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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When the Boston Police Department came across violent pro-Palestine supporters at the Boston Common, officers were not dressed in riot gear, and there was not enough manpower to handle the combative situation, according to the president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
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Watts pressed further, Porter grew visibly frustrated, and finally Porter accused Watts of being unnecessarily combative.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gladiatorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladiatorial. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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