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
These modern-day gladiators like to unwind by swapping Pikachus for Charmanders.
—
Jesse Granger, New York Times, 2 June 2026
The find also suggests female beast hunters persisted for several decades longer than female gladiators who fought other people, Manas says.
—Taylor Mitchell Brown, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
The stories of gladiators and the sheer size of the arena captivate younger imaginations in a way few other sites can.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026
Part of the appeal of female gladiators was their very paradoxical nature.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
At roughly 1,800 years old, the artwork depicts women fighting animals long after the empire banned them from performing as gladiators.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026
Truck traditionalists and forum gladiators will argue this, of course.
—New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
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
Jesse Granger, New York Times, 2 June 2026
The find also suggests female beast hunters persisted for several decades longer than female gladiators who fought other people, Manas says.
—Taylor Mitchell Brown, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
The stories of gladiators and the sheer size of the arena captivate younger imaginations in a way few other sites can.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026
Part of the appeal of female gladiators was their very paradoxical nature.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
At roughly 1,800 years old, the artwork depicts women fighting animals long after the empire banned them from performing as gladiators.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026
Truck traditionalists and forum gladiators will argue this, of course.
—New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gladiators
Noun
-
Klitschko and his brother Vitali are both heavyweight world-champion boxers and heroes in their native Ukraine.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
-
Now in production in Los Angeles, Delphi follows a group of gifted young boxers in an elite academy fighting to achieve their dreams and reach the pinnacle of the sport.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
The military isn’t the only government entity working with the UFC — the FBI recently hosted a training partnership with UFC fighters.—
Paula Chesley,
STAT,
3 June 2026
-
Given Coker’s track record and the desire to build attention for the new MMA league and its fighters, tournaments are expected to play a key role.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gladiators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladiators. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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