EN

Synonyms for pugnacious

  • adjective

Most common

combative bellicose

Synonyms by meaning

Adjective

1. Hard-bitten

hard-bitten, hard-boiled

2. Combative — naturally aggressive or hostile; combative; belligerent; bellicose

combative, bellicose, belligerent, quarrelsome, truculent, aggressive, contentious, antagonistic, scrappy, fighting, rough, warlike, disputatious

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Naturally aggressive or hostile; combative; belligerent; bellicose.

Example sentences

  • combative The combative patient was given a tranquilizer.
  • bellicose Such a bellicose attitude won't win you any friends.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
pugnacioussteady
combativerising
bellicosesteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

5 letters
rough1
7 letters
scrappy2, warlike2
8 letters
fighting2
9 letters
combative3, bellicose3, truculent3
10 letters
aggressive3
11 letters
contentious3, belligerent4, quarrelsome3
12 letters
antagonistic5, disputatious

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (scrappy2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
pugnace
Italiano
pugnace
Español
pugnaz