gladiatorial

[glad-ee-uh-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-]

adjective

1. of or relating to gladiators or to their combats.

gladiatorial

/ ˌɡlædɪəˈtɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or relating to gladiators, combat, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of gladiatorial¹

1745–55; < Latin gladiātōri ( us ) ( gladiator, -tory ¹ ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

But we aren’t going to get it as long as we indulge the rhetorical gladiatorial fantasies of the “Debate Me” Bros.

From Salon

That isn’t enough to sway the gladiatorial majority, which is mostly made up of men grinning at the fattening piggy bank suspended above them.

From Salon

"For years our understanding of Roman gladiatorial combat and animal spectacles has relied heavily on historical texts and artistic depictions," he said.

From BBC

No doubt football is suffused with gladiatorial bravado.

From Los Angeles Times

The young London gladiatrix was buried alone, among gladiatorial symbols, ostracized from the roughly 30 other Roman graves in the area.

From Salon

Related Words

• belligerent 
• cantankerous 
• combative 
• contentious 
• fractious 
• litigious 
• petulant 
• tempestuous 
• turbulent 
• unruly