pugnacious

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

“Diddy beat the Feds that boy a bad man!,” the pugnacious “In Da Club” artist said on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2025

And no one coasts on reputation for pugnacious realism, in U.S. politics, like Mario Cuomo’s son.

From Slate • Jun. 17, 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 glance was at once calculating and pugnacious.

From "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck