as in boxers
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pugilists
To his credit, the bloodied Yankees fan fought back much better than most pugilists who give up the high ground.
—
Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pugilists
Noun
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Roberto Duran, the Central American nation’s most famous son, is one of the greatest boxers in history.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
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Klitschko and his brother Vitali are both heavyweight world-champion boxers and heroes in their native Ukraine.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Federal agents training alongside UFC fighters, a title contender working out inside FBI headquarters and a UFC event on White House grounds would have sounded like satire just a few years ago.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
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As violent as these bouts get, fighters agree to honor the rules, even mid-pummeling.—
Bhumika Tharoor,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Noun
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These modern-day gladiators like to unwind by swapping Pikachus for Charmanders.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Pugilists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pugilists. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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