pugnacity

[ puhg-nas-i-tee ]
See synonyms for pugnacity on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. readiness to quarrel or fight; combative or argumentative character:She was always defending him against the fallout from his pugnacity and lack of social graces.

Origin of pugnacity

1
First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin pugnācitās “combativeness,” equivalent to pugnāci-, stem of pugnāx “combative” + -tās -ty2
  • Also pug·na·cious·ness [puhg-ney-shuhs-nis] /pʌgˈneɪ ʃəs nɪs/ .

Words Nearby pugnacity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pugnacity in a sentence

  • This bird, besides its noted pugnacity, is an arrant rogue, and invariably takes advantage of the House Martin's labour.

  • Incidentally, also, he made good his boasts and held the fort with equal pugnacity from the savages.

  • The majority of Ueberhells were accused of presumption and arrogance, of opiniativeness and pugnacity.

    Complete Short Works | Georg Ebers