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
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
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
-
His aggression led to him getting six attempts at the free-throw line.—
Dan Rios,
Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Smog-forming emissions can interfere with insect communication by breaking down pheromones, causing ant colonies to exhibit aggression toward their own members and neglect their larvae.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Jokic became wrapped up in how it was officiated throughout the night, letting Utah’s aggressiveness get to him at times instead of playing through it and imposing his own physicality.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
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In the final, Nidelea-Polanin mounted a tactically sharp and defensive-oriented approach that nullified the usual aggressiveness of Gochis.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
So far, however, there is no sign of hostilities easing.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Aluminum hit the highest in almost four years before erasing gains, as escalating hostilities in the Middle East worsened the supply outlook from the region, while copper and other industrial metals fell on falling risk appetite.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pugnacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pugnacity. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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