pugilistic

American  

[pyoo-juh-lis-tik] / ˌpyu dʒəˈlɪs tɪk /

adjective

1. relating to or involving fighting with the fists, especially professional boxing.

   The movie Rocky is a triumphant, rags-to-riches tale of pugilistic glory.

2. inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent.

   She was fired for being a pugilistic, wine-tossing diva who fought with nearly everyone.

---

Other Word Forms

• pugilistically
  adverb
• unpugilistic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pugilistic

pugilist ( def. ) + -ic

Explanation

If you're pugilistic, you're a boxer — or you just like to fight. When you're heading to watch a boxing match, you could say you're going to see a pugilistic event (and you'll sound really smart). A professional boxer can be described as pugilistic, but a middle school kid who's always getting in fist fights is also pugilistic. Another word for a boxer or a fighter is a pugilist, which comes from the Latin pugil, "boxer or fist fighter." This root is also related to the word pugnus, "fist," and pugnacious, "combative or fond of fighting."

Example Sentences

During his testimony and cross-examination on Tuesday and Wednesday, he looked petty and pugilistic, offering answers inconsistent with his deposition and quibbling with defense attorney William Savitt over yes-or-no questions for hours.

From Slate • Apr. 30, 2026

And Bennett thinks the heightened stakes and occasion will mean a less pugilistic occasion.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

Wine buyer Joe Salamone of Crush Wine & Spirits in New York takes a far less pugilistic position: “Sometimes it’s better just to hand Veuve to customers.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

But the fight was far from a pugilistic masterpiece.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2024

The day after his pugilistic rage, he sat in his chair and didn’t move or say a word all day.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah