pugnacious

[ puhg-ney-shuhs ]
/ pʌgˈneɪ ʃəs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR pugnacious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

inclined to quarrel or fight readily; quarrelsome; belligerent; combative.

Origin of pugnacious

1635–45; pugnaci(ty) (< Latin pugnācitās combativeness, equivalent to pugnāci-, stem of pugnāx combative (akin to pugil; see pugilism) + -tās -ty2) + -ous

OTHER WORDS FROM pugnacious

Words nearby pugnacious

pugilism, pugilist, pugin, puglia, pugmark, pugnacious, pugree, pugwash conferences, puh-leeze, puha, puir

Words related to pugnacity

backbone, boldness, militancy, belligerency, truculence, belligerence, bellicosity, resistance, pluck, mettle, attack, aggression, truculency, aggressiveness, gameness, spirit, hardihood, malice, resentment, estrangement

Example sentences from the Web for pugnacity

British Dictionary definitions for pugnacity

pugnacious
/ (pʌɡˈneɪʃəs) /

adjective

readily disposed to fight; belligerent

Derived forms of pugnacious

pugnaciously, adverb pugnacity (pʌɡˈnæsɪtɪ) or pugnaciousness, noun

Word Origin for pugnacious

C17: from Latin pugnāx