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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pugilists
Noun
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Also featured in the photo shoot are a pink colorway of the Sinful Rose print, boxers, lace-up bodysuits and more.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026 -
Purists don’t want to see these gimmicky fights become the future of the sport, but when the financial reward of fighting the Jake Paul’s of the world is so high, more professional boxers are bound to want a piece of the pie.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
20 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The civil war in Yemen, on the southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula and bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians.—
Fatma Khaled,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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Over 100 fighters have already registered for the combine, which combines athletic testing, live entertainment and fan engagement.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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That is gladiators without swords.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Pugilists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pugilists. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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