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
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Recent Examples of pugnacity
But all of that is in addition to his defense, his rebounding, his slashing, his voice, his pugnacity.
—
Marcus Thompson Ii,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
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
Marcus Thompson Ii,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
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
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Several Gulf countries have strongly denounced Iran's drone strikes Saturday on the island nation of Bahrain, while vowing to stand united against any possible aggression from Tehran in the future.
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And the specter of Russian military aggression has spurred much talk of pouring money into defense instead.
Noun
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Dillon Thieneman’s speed Since draft night in April, Thieneman has been lauded for his combination of speed, instincts and aggressiveness.
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This is a lineup structured to thrive with a small-ball approach — high batting average, chaos and aggressiveness on the basepaths, and manufacturing runs.
Noun
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The accord called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a halt to hostilities across the region, including in Lebanon.
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The memorandum of understanding calls for an end to all hostilities, including in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been fighting Hezbollah.
Cite this Entry
“Pugnacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pugnacity. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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