pugnacious

Advancedzipf 2.14

Pronunciation

/pʌɡˈneɪʃəs/(pug-NAY-shus)

Part of speech

adjectiveformal

Chinese

好斗的；好争论的

Definition

Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.

Word family

  • pugnacity/pʌɡˈnæsɪti/(n)好斗
  • pugnaciously/pʌɡˈneɪʃəsli/(adv)好斗地

Collocations

  • pugnacious attitude
  • pugnacious spirit
  • pugnacious debater
  • pugnacious streak

Examples

  1. 1.The pugnacious lawyer cross-examined every witness with relentless aggression. (combative manner)
  2. 2.Despite his small frame, the terrier had a pugnacious temperament. (eager to fight)

Synonyms

  • combative/ˈkɒmbətɪv/— ready to fight
  • belligerent/bəˈlɪdʒərənt/— hostile, warlike
  • bellicose/ˈbɛlɪkoʊs/— inclined to war, more formal

Etymology

from Latin "pugnax" — from "pugnus" (fist) — literally "fist-ready"