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Showing results for pugnacious. Search instead for pugnaciousn.
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.

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

Rumor is the pugnacious Irish actor Jack O’Connell plays the villain.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 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

His pugnacious tone indicated that they were not about to laugh at Xenophilius, despite the clear provocation.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling