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Showing results for pugnacious. Search instead for pugnaciou.
Definitions

pugnacious

[puhg-ney-shuhs] / pʌgˈneɪ ʃəs /
ADJECTIVE
belligerent
Synonyms
WEAK
aggressive antagonistic argumentative bellicose brawling cantankerous chip on shoulder choleric combative contentious defiant disputatious have a bone to pick hot-tempered irascible irritable itching to fight militant petulant pushing pushy quarrelsome ready to fight rebellious salty scrappy self-assertive truculent warlike
Antonyms
WEAK
easygoing kind laid-back nice

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.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a less pugnacious message when compared with last year’s Munich conference.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 15, 2026

Some even agreed with Kari Lake, the pugnacious advisor Trump appointed to oversee the Agency for Global Media, which provides funding for news programming abroad.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2025

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

Lincoln was a clever, gangly, pugnacious, provincial lawyer.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith