as in boxer
one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists
a pugilist with the trademark of the boxing ring: a nose that showed signs of having been broken on more than one occasion
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Recent Examples of pugilist
She is next slated to appear in the boxing drama Christy, based on the life of real professional pugilist Christy Martin.
—
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 14 Aug. 2025
Even Kamala Harris, maybe especially Harris, fits that insider image, and certainly Gavin Newsom, despite zigzagging from centrist to pugilist, can’t forward his presidential ambitions as anything but old-guard.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Bernthal, with his handsome pugilist’s profile, plays Braxton’s emotions explosively close to the surface.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Eriksen can be a skilled on-ball creator but is more poet than pugilist when competing for loose balls.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pugilist
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 14 Aug. 2025
Even Kamala Harris, maybe especially Harris, fits that insider image, and certainly Gavin Newsom, despite zigzagging from centrist to pugilist, can’t forward his presidential ambitions as anything but old-guard.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Bernthal, with his handsome pugilist’s profile, plays Braxton’s emotions explosively close to the surface.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Eriksen can be a skilled on-ball creator but is more poet than pugilist when competing for loose balls.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pugilist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pugilist
Noun
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And the Canadian pop star certainly made an appearance to remember, performing an acoustic rendition in nothing but his silk boxers and a purple guitar.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
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A week earlier, the White House hosted a black-tie preview attended by Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy, Apple chief executive Tim Cook and former boxer Mike Tyson.—
Jake Coyle,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Njoki claims African fighters were deliberately exposed in dangerous situations as bait for Ukrainian drones.—
Larry Madowo,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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The Shahed-139 drone was shot down by an F-35C fighter jet from the Lincoln, which, according to Hawkins, was sailing about 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast.—
Konstantin Toropin,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pugilist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pugilist. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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