pugnacious

[puhg-ney-shuhs]

adjective

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

   Synonyms: bellicose, contentious, argumentative
   Antonyms: agreeable

pugnacious

/ pʌɡˈneɪʃəs, pʌɡˈnæsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. readily disposed to fight; belligerent

Other Word Forms

• pugnaciously adverb
• pugnacity noun
• pugnaciousness noun
• unpugnacious adjective
• unpugnaciously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pugnacious¹

First recorded in 1635–45; pugnaci(ty) (from Latin pugnācitās “combativeness,” equivalent to pugnāci-, stem of pugnāx combative (akin to pugil; pugilism ) + -tās -ty ² ) + -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of pugnacious¹

C17: from Latin pugnāx

Example Sentences

The firm brought a new, more pugnacious approach to the L.A.

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Some Democrats may thrill each time Newsom delivers one of his pugnacious pronouncements.

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“Diddy beat the Feds that boy a bad man!,” the pugnacious “In Da Club” artist said on Instagram.

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But they were strongly opposed to the strongman style of former President Duterte, and may fear his pugnacious daughter becoming president in 2028.

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Some even agreed with Kari Lake, the pugnacious advisor Trump appointed to oversee the Agency for Global Media, which provides funding for news programming abroad.

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