PUGNACITY Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

pugnacity

noun

as in aggression

an inclination to fight or quarrel the players need to temper their pugnacity with a little self-restraint—their aggressive style of play too often results in penalties

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pugnacity Trump had won by fifty-three points there in 2016, and Greene’s paranoid pugnacity seemed like a good fit, if voters could stomach an outsider. —

Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026 That does not mean his pugnacity has dimmed. —

Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pugnacity

Noun

Kyiv fears that Moscow could use that territory as a launchpad for further aggression.

— Volodymyr Yurchuk, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Unfortunately, the quality of the program was low and resulted in rising aggression and behavior issues among children, especially boys, and hurt parental relationships.

— Abby McCloskey, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026