fighting words

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.

Those are fighting words for Barry, a 5-foot-9 senior who also plays for the City Section Division III championship soccer team and runs track.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 23, 2023

Justice Kagan acknowledged that “true threats,” like libel, incitement, obscenity and fighting words, are not protected by the First Amendment.

From New York Times • Jun. 27, 2023

It's about one company claiming that another company's defamatory actions caused it to lose business, not about "fighting words" or incitement to violence.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2023

Those weren’t uncommon critiques, but coming from such a major figure who’d made his riches off Bitcoin, they were certainly fighting words.

From Slate • Dec. 15, 2022

Adam has never met Mrs. Schein, so he doesn’t get that implying that Kim is a worrywart is fighting words.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman