Meaning & use
pugilistic
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivebefore a nounformalold-fashioned
Having to do with boxing or fist fighting.
Grammar: Almost always before a noun: pugilistic skill.
Patterns
- a pugilistic career
- pugilistic skill
The champion's pugilistic career lasted twenty years.
He had little pugilistic talent but a lot of heart.
The museum has a pugilistic exhibit about old boxing gloves.
adjectivecomparablehumorousfigurative
Eager to fight or argue, in a combative way.
Grammar: Humorous or figurative when used about words, not fists.
Patterns
- pugilistic in tone
- a pugilistic mood
The two lawyers were in a pugilistic mood at the hearing.
His pugilistic attitude annoyed the committee.
The debate turned pugilistic within minutes.
Word forms
| comparative | more pugilistic |
|---|---|
| superlative | most pugilistic |
Common combinations
- pugilistic skills
- His pugilistic skills made him a local hero.
- pugilistic spirit
- She showed a pugilistic spirit at the meeting.
- pugilistic champion
- The pugilistic champion retired at thirty.
- pugilistic encounter
- The two actors had a pugilistic encounter on set.
- pugilistic style
- He wrote in a pugilistic style.
Synonyms and how they differ
- boxing
- Boxing is the everyday word for the sport, while pugilistic is a formal adjective with an old-fashioned flavor.
- combative
- Combative describes a readiness to fight or argue in any setting, not only with fists.
- belligerent
- Belligerent suggests hostile, aggressive behavior and is much less playful.
- fistic
- Fistic is a rare, humorous word meaning concerning fists.
Opposites
Word family
- pugilism noun
- the sport or practice of boxing
- pugilist noun
- a boxer
- pugilistically adverb
- in a boxing or fighting manner (rare)
- pugnacious adjective
- eager to fight
Commonly confused: pugilistic or pugnacious?
pugilistic vs pugnacious
Pugnacious means likely to start fights or arguments, while pugilistic concerns boxing itself.
Practice
The retired fighter spoke proudly of his ______ career in the ring.
Choose one answer.
Pugilistic means connected with boxing. The other adjectives describe walking, medicines and rural life.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pugilistic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.