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pugnacious

[puhg-nay-shuhs] / pʌgˈneɪ ʃəs /


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.

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Ann Widdecombe was pugnacious, charismatic, barbed and yes, had a sense of silliness too.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

It was the Steyer I’ve heard on too many commercials: pugnacious, compassionate but spouting a whole bunch of boilerplate.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

The Russian mobster decides that the brother-sister act—she pugnacious, he perpetually panic-stricken—can be useful.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026

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




Vocabulary lists containing pugnacious


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