pugnacity

American  

[puhg-nas-i-tee] / pʌgˈnæs ɪ ti /

Also pugnaciousness

noun

1. readiness to quarrel or fight; combative or argumentative character.

   She was always defending him against the fallout from his pugnacity and lack of social graces.

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Etymology

Origin of pugnacity

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin pugnācitās “combativeness,” equivalent to pugnāci-, stem of pugnāx “combative” + -tās -ty ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

I am not persuaded by this criticism—the idea that Jaffa’s famous pugnacity arose from his Straussian ideas rather than his personality strikes me as tendentious.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

His famous pugnacity became trained more and more on members of his own party, and his own constituents, than on Republicans.

From Slate • Nov. 22, 2024

In an early demonstration of his political pugnacity, Reid had demanded during the campaign that Laxalt release his family’s financial interests.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 28, 2021

The cast’s performances belong to different productions, ranging from McCarthy’s broad pugnacity to Keddie’s hushed verisimilitude.

From Washington Post • Aug. 16, 2021

"What do you mean by that?" the other demanded, with half-yielding pugnacity.

From True and Other Stories by Lathrop, George Parsons