as in boxers
one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists
a retired pug with battered ears and swollen knuckles
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pugs
The largest groups of dog breeds entered into the competition include 149 golden retrievers, 143 dachshunds, 110 French bulldogs, 106 Chihuahuas, 105 Australian shepherds, 100 Labrador retrievers, 82 whippets, 65 Rhodesian ridgebacks, 60 Pomeranians, 58 Chinese cresteds, and 57 pugs.
—
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Photography was not an unusual hobby for a young woman of her milieu, and many of Austen’s early images depict a world of genteel Victorian amusements—parties gathered on porches and scenic overlooks, happy pugs, sunny days in leg-of-mutton sleeves.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2025
French bulldogs, pugs, and other short-nosed dog breeds have had a grip on dog lovers for years now.
—Laura Baisas Aug 6, Popular Science, 6 Aug. 2025
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Photography was not an unusual hobby for a young woman of her milieu, and many of Austen’s early images depict a world of genteel Victorian amusements—parties gathered on porches and scenic overlooks, happy pugs, sunny days in leg-of-mutton sleeves.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2025
French bulldogs, pugs, and other short-nosed dog breeds have had a grip on dog lovers for years now.
—Laura Baisas Aug 6, Popular Science, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pugs
Noun
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Also featured in the photo shoot are a pink colorway of the Sinful Rose print, boxers, lace-up bodysuits and more.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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So, too, has the gym’s reputation, built on Jayden’s high placements at national tournaments and national title wins by Osiris and three female youth boxers — including the boys’ sisters Lily Hernandez, 11, and Emoni Rangel, 10.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Ashur’s gladiators, especially the ambitious Tarchon (Jordi Webber) and Korris, are eager to bask in the notoriety, riches and freedoms a champion status would bring them.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
1 Dec. 2025
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That is gladiators without swords.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Carrying a 1,000-pound penetrating warhead and with a range of up to 620 miles (1,000 kilometers), the JASSM can also be fired well off Iranian shores from a range of US Air Force jets, including F-15, F-16 and F-35 fighters and B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers, as well as US Navy F/A-18 fighters.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
14 Jan. 2026
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The bit began with two UFC fighters who emerged to serve as their personal bodyguards against any ravenous super-fans.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pugs. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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