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fighting word

American  

noun

  1. Usually fighting words. language that arouses rage in an antagonist.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

We was fighting word counts, so a lot of my essay got chopped up.

From Salon • Nov. 6, 2022

The main target of its critique is also the principal object of its affection, which we might call — using a name that has lately become something of a fighting word — cinema.

From New York Times • Jul. 20, 2022

Then she turned the case over and spied a fighting word: Soul, short for SoulCycle, a popular chain of cycling studios in New York and Los Angeles.

From New York Times • Dec. 21, 2012

Early in the war, OWI passed the word around: call Hitler & Mussolini any fighting word that comes to mind�but go easy on Emperor Hirohito.

From Time Magazine Archive

From any other man this were a fighting word, but as it is, let us reason together, brother!

From Martin Conisby's Vengeance by Farnol, Jeffery

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