Synonym Chooser

How is the word pugnacious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of pugnacious are bellicose, belligerent, contentious, and quarrelsome. While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.

a pugnacious gangster

In what contexts can bellicose take the place of pugnacious?

The synonyms bellicose and pugnacious are sometimes interchangeable, but bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.

a drunk in a bellicose mood

When would belligerent be a good substitute for pugnacious?

While the synonyms belligerent and pugnacious are close in meaning, belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities.

belligerent nations

Where would contentious be a reasonable alternative to pugnacious?

Although the words contentious and pugnacious have much in common, contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.

wearied by his contentious disposition

When is it sensible to use quarrelsome instead of pugnacious?

The meanings of quarrelsome and pugnacious largely overlap; however, quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.

the heat made us all quarrelsome

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pugnacious These involve stand-up comedians, pugnacious composers, and whether or not Paula Pell will get her moment in the spotlight. Joe Reid, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2025 The web of secrets and confessions, schemes and counterplots, short-term pleasures and far-reaching decisions, are couched in dialogue that is pugnacious, vulnerable, comedic, and sometimes richly poetic, and which feels as spontaneous as it is carefully crafted. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2025 The Godfather director steals the show here as an energetic, pugnacious and visionary circus ringleader who put his money where his mouth was for a project that wound up flopping critically and commercially. Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025 Some Democrats may thrill each time Newsom delivers one of his pugnacious pronouncements. Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 19 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for pugnacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pugnacious
Adjective
  • Being passive aggressive and giving non-committal responses is clearly not working.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
  • But even with the aggressive approach, the talent gap was evident.
    Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In the militant revanche of the late Putin era, men are men, women are women, and the men are in charge.
    Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Pakistan has long accused Kabul of harboring the Pakistani Taliban militant group (known as the TTP), which its Afghan namesake denies.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In response, Stanton told him to go away, using an expletive, and sent a series of hostile messages, as well as one asking to meet in person, the complaint alleges.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
  • But in the best-of-seven ALCS, the Jays needed four starters, so there was Scherzer, making his first appearance of the postseason in a hostile environment with his team needing a win to tie the series with the Seattle Mariners at two games apiece.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The close, caring but contentious relationships among the three Williams women constitute some of the new season’s greatest pleasures.
    Judy Berman, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The filibuster remains a contentious fixture, shaping negotiations and highlighting deep divisions in Congress.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pugnacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pugnacious. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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