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Showing results for gladiatorial.
Definitions

gladiatorial

[glad-ee-uh-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-] / ˌglæd i əˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr- /
ADJECTIVE
combative
Synonyms
STRONGEST
antagonistic bellicose belligerent cantankerous contentious energetic
WEAK
cussed fire-eating hawkish militant ornery pugnacious quarrelsome ructious scrappy strenuous trigger-happy truculent warlike warring
Antonyms
STRONGEST
kind nice
WEAK
agreeable compromising peaceful peaceloving
ADJECTIVE
militant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assertive bellicose belligerent militaristic vigorous warring
STRONG
active fighting martial military offensive
WEAK
assertory combating contending contentious embattled in arms pugnacious pushy quarrelsome scrappy self-assertive truculent up in arms warlike
Antonyms
WEAK
compliant peaceful peaceloving submissive tolerant
ADJECTIVE
quarrelsome
Synonyms
STRONGEST
belligerent cantankerous combative contentious fractious litigious petulant tempestuous turbulent unruly
WEAK
argumentative bad-tempered bellicose brawling cat-and-dog choleric churlish crabby cross disputatious dissentious excitable fiery hasty have chip on shoulder hotheaded huffy impassioned irascible irritable ornery passionate peevish pettish pugnacious querulous ructious snappy thin-skinned touchy truculent violent war
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreeable calm good-natured happy mild moderate nice obedient pleasant
WEAK
forgiving friendly patient
ADJECTIVE
warlike
Synonyms
WEAK
aggressive attacking bellicose belligerent bloodthirsty combative contending contentious contrary fighting hawkish inimical martial militant militaristic military offensive pugnacious quarrelsome ructious soldierly truculent unfriendly warmongering warring
Antonyms
WEAK
harmonizing peaceful

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.

Betfred's Fred Done called the race result a "gladiatorial bloodbath for bookies" with the heavily-backed favourite winning.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Emperors competed with one another to put on larger and larger gladiatorial games, often to mark an anniversary of their rule or a military victory.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The gladiatorial stadium stands between England and parity in the Ashes series.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025

No doubt football is suffused with gladiatorial bravado.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2024

So did Dorothy Fowler, who fumed to a visitor one day, “This community doesn’t want academic excellence. It wants a gladiatorial spectacle on a Friday night.”

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger