pugilistic

[ pyoo-juh-lis-tik ]

/ ˌpyu dʒəˈlɪs tɪk /

adjective

relating to or involving fighting with the fists, especially professional boxing:The movie Rocky is a triumphant, rags-to-riches tale of pugilistic glory.

inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent: She was fired for being a pugilistic, wine-tossing diva who fought with nearly everyone.

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?

Question 1 of 10

seclusion

a false belief or opinion.

the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pugilistic

pugilist + -ic

OTHER WORDS FROM pugilistic

pu·gi·lis·ti·cal·ly, adverbun·pu·gi·lis·tic, adjective

Words nearby pugilistic

puggree, puggy, pugh, pugilism, pugilist, pugilistic, pugil stick, Pugin, Puglia, pugmark, pug mill

Example sentences from the Web for pugilistic

For starters, the pugilistic Governor framed his record as being about results, as opposed to partisan politics.
Hillary Clinton Vs. the GOP Boys’ Club: Fighting for the Female Vote|Lloyd Green|October 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But when a boxer is caught juicing his gloves, the pugilistic community turns away in disgust.
How the Saints Players Betrayed the Football Brotherhood|Gordon Marino|March 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I pressed Stevens about the risk to his candidate of such a pugilistic approach.
Mitt Romney Smacks Newt Gingrich in Florida Brawl at NBC Debate|Howard Kurtz|January 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Sin City brought out the devil in the GOP candidates tonight, delivering the most pugilistic Republican Party debate to date.
Romney Rattled, But Still in Front|John Avlon|October 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST

The very tombs of the dead, sacred in all lands, became a slaughter ground of the butcher, and an arena for pugilistic contests.
The International Monthly Magazine, Volume 5, No. 1, January, 1852|Various
A person not used to pugilistic gestures does not instantly recover from this surprise.
The Professor at the Breakfast Table|Oliver Wendell Holmes (Sr.)
This will be easily understood by any one who remembers the pugilistic Bench of those days.
The Admirable Bashville|Bernard Shaw
I was rather anxious, the next day, to know what course my polite and pugilistic instructor would take.
A Rogue's Life|Wilkie Collins
I soon found that my antagonist's pugilistic education did not come up to mine.
The Naval History of the United States|Willis J. Abbot.

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