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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The Hilton Inner Harbor hosted 14 matches Saturday, bringing about 28 boxers into the ring.—
Kaicey Baylor,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
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The card will also feature several other San Diego-area boxers, including super lightweights Daniel Morales (8-0, 5 KOs) and Angel Juan Estrada (12-1-1, 9 KOs).—
Ivan Carter,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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What about those fighters grants them the respect of a great like you?—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Ukrainian estimates cited in the report say at least 3,388 foreign fighters have been killed, with some estimates suggesting one in five recruits may not survive deployment.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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Part of the appeal of female gladiators was their very paradoxical nature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pugilists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pugilists. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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