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
Being trained in combat, and armed with swords, spears, and bows and arrows, the gladiators were able to turn the tables on the wild beasts; the result was another predictable slaughter, in this case of the animals.
—
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
That is gladiators without swords.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
That's gladiators without swords.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
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
That is gladiators without swords.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
That's gladiators without swords.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gladiators
Noun
-
The two most prominent boxers of their generation will meet again 11 years after Mayweather beat Pacquiao by decision in a fight that didn’t live up to the decade of hype preceding it.—
Greg Beacham,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
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What used to take a boutique agency in Soho three weeks, a $50,000 budget and a crew of 20 can now be spat out by a guy in his boxers at two in the morning using Midjourney and Sora.—
Michele Zanello,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Many are wives or widows of IS fighters and their children.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
News Underneath the Shujaiya neighborhood in Gaza City, mattresses once used by Hamas fighters remain on the floor of a dormitory built in a tunnel by the militant group.—
Marissa Martinez,
NBC news,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gladiators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladiators. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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