pugnacious

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.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran’s pugnacious parliament speaker, continued his now-daily trolling of the Trump administration, posting a picture depicting the smoking wreckage of what appeared to be two planes and two helicopters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Even by the former’s standards, it was angry, pugnacious, and hence less effective.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

But Zitron established himself as one of the most pugnacious critics of Big Tech after he penned a 2023 newsletter about tech products’ drift from quality toward mindless growth.

From Slate • Feb. 2, 2025

John Prescott became a Labour frontbench spokesman in May 1979 and joined the shadow cabinet in 1983, gaining a reputation as a pugnacious and knowledgeable spokesman on transport.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2024

Huxley was the most vocal and pugnacious of them all, and earned the nickname of Darwins bulldog.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman