as in boxers
one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists
the two punch-drunk gladiators stumbled to their corners
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Recent Examples of gladiators
Thousands of Romans once flocked to this arena to watch gladiators battle each other and wild animals.
—
ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Researchers using advanced imaging technology have deciphered 79 previously invisible inscriptions — including love notes, drawings of gladiators, and everyday messages — on a wall in the ancient city of Pompeii, offering a rare window into the lives of ordinary people nearly 2,000 years ago.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
In these unedifying spectacles, the lion was just one of a host of large creatures, from wolves to giraffes, that were released into an amphitheater to be hunted down by specialist gladiators known as bestiarii.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
There were dancing gladiators and moka pots, a phalanx of runway models dressed (in Armani) in green, white and red, to represent the Italian flag.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Ashur’s gladiators, especially the ambitious Tarchon (Jordi Webber) and Korris, are eager to bask in the notoriety, riches and freedoms a champion status would bring them.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025
That is gladiators without swords.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
That is gladiators without swords.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 8 Oct. 2025
That is violent chess, that is gladiators without swords.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2025
ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Researchers using advanced imaging technology have deciphered 79 previously invisible inscriptions — including love notes, drawings of gladiators, and everyday messages — on a wall in the ancient city of Pompeii, offering a rare window into the lives of ordinary people nearly 2,000 years ago.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
In these unedifying spectacles, the lion was just one of a host of large creatures, from wolves to giraffes, that were released into an amphitheater to be hunted down by specialist gladiators known as bestiarii.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
There were dancing gladiators and moka pots, a phalanx of runway models dressed (in Armani) in green, white and red, to represent the Italian flag.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Ashur’s gladiators, especially the ambitious Tarchon (Jordi Webber) and Korris, are eager to bask in the notoriety, riches and freedoms a champion status would bring them.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025
That is gladiators without swords.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
That is gladiators without swords.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 8 Oct. 2025
That is violent chess, that is gladiators without swords.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gladiators
Noun
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At London 2012, boxers and swimmers from Cameroon and Guinea disappeared and ultimately claimed asylum in the UK.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Sensing Yamamoto might pitch again, Sonoda wore the same boxers for Game 7.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Boko Haram has since become stronger, with thousands of fighters and different factions, including the Islamic State West Africa Province, which is backed by the Islamic State group.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Svetlana Petriychuk wrote the play Finist, the Brave Falcon, based on real events, about Russian women deceived into marrying ISIS fighters and traveling to Syria.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gladiators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladiators. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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