pugnacious

[ puhg-ney-shuhs ]
See synonyms for: pugnaciouspugnaciousnesspugnacity on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. inclined to quarrel or fight readily; quarrelsome; belligerent; combative.

Origin of pugnacious

1
First recorded in 1635–45; pugnaci(ty) (from Latin pugnācitās “combativeness,” equivalent to pugnāci-, stem of pugnāx combative (akin to pugil; see pugilism) + -tās -ty2) + -ous

Other words for pugnacious

Opposites for pugnacious

Other words from pugnacious

  • pug·na·cious·ly, adverb
  • pug·nac·i·ty [puhg-nas-i-tee], /pʌgˈnæs ɪ ti/, pug·na·cious·ness, noun
  • un·pug·na·cious, adjective
  • un·pug·na·cious·ly, adverb

Words Nearby pugnacious

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How to use pugnacious in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pugnacious

pugnacious

/ (pʌɡˈneɪʃəs) /


adjective
  1. readily disposed to fight; belligerent

Origin of pugnacious

1
C17: from Latin pugnāx

Derived forms of pugnacious

  • pugnaciously, adverb
  • pugnacity (pʌɡˈnæsɪtɪ) or pugnaciousness, noun

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