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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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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Klitschko and his brother Vitali are both heavyweight world-champion boxers and heroes in their native Ukraine.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
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Now in production in Los Angeles, Delphi follows a group of gifted young boxers in an elite academy fighting to achieve their dreams and reach the pinnacle of the sport.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
Noun
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The military isn’t the only government entity working with the UFC — the FBI recently hosted a training partnership with UFC fighters.—
Paula Chesley,
STAT,
3 June 2026
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Given Coker’s track record and the desire to build attention for the new MMA league and its fighters, tournaments are expected to play a key role.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
2 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 8 Jun. 2026.
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