as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
a movie reviewer who is spirited, even pugnacious, when defending her opinions
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pugnacious
Official government accounts are now filled with right-wing memes, cinematic videos and pugnacious statements.
—
Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
His primary professional experience over the last decade has been picking fights and shaping narratives as a pugnacious media personality.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 24 Feb. 2025
Progressives have delivered a generally meek response to the situation in what’s becoming a departure from their pugnacious style of politics.
—Hanna Trudo, The Hill, 21 Feb. 2025
It’s been a wonky stretch for the Magic, who looked like pugnacious early-season darlings in December.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pugnacious
Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
His primary professional experience over the last decade has been picking fights and shaping narratives as a pugnacious media personality.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 24 Feb. 2025
Progressives have delivered a generally meek response to the situation in what’s becoming a departure from their pugnacious style of politics.
—Hanna Trudo, The Hill, 21 Feb. 2025
It’s been a wonky stretch for the Magic, who looked like pugnacious early-season darlings in December.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pugnacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pugnacious
Adjective
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But in recent weeks, Musk dramatically lowered his taxpayer savings estimates from DOGE's government cuts, disagreed publicly with Trump's aggressive tariff policies and butted heads with multiple Trump officials, some publicly, revealing divisions within the White House over Musk's influence.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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After Leandro Trossard’s red card, the approach became even more aggressive — City’s entire team was essentially camped inside or on the edge of Arsenal’s box.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The attack at Pahalgam on Tuesday was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), which is an offshoot of Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
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However, Pakistan denied any connection to the attack, which was claimed by a militant group that called itself the Kashmir Resistance.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s aggressive targeting of major law firms, many of which have advocated liberal policy positions and clients, also marks a striking new front in his second-term legal battles, as the administration pressures firms seen as politically hostile or unwilling to back its agenda.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
3 May 2025
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Russia will accrue enormous economic benefits if the United States facilitates its reentry into the world economy, generating revenue that will go directly to rebuilding its military, funding hostile intelligence operations and propping up a regime that’s never far from its next military adventure.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Some of his actions have been highly contentious, including his decision to deport migrants to an El Salvadorian prison using an 18th century wartime statute — which was subject to legal challenges.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2025
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The implementation was originally blocked in federal court and sparked a contentious legal back-and-forth.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pugnacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pugnacious. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
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