Pugnacious
[pəg-ˈnā-shəs]
Part of speech: adjective
Origin: Latin, 17th century
1.
combative and eager to fight
2.
quick to start an argument or physical altercation
3.
aggressive or ferocious
Examples of Pugnacious in a sentence
"Dave was always pugnacious, so it was no surprise when he become a boxer."
"I tried to have a calm debate, but my colleague was more pugnacious than I expected."
About Pugnacious
Often associated with the word “pugnacious,” boxing as a sport dates back over 5,000 years. There is a piece of Sumerian art found in the area now known as modern-day Iraq that depicts two individuals boxing. Other images depicting boxing matches, some even including boxing gloves, have been found to date back 3,000 years or more, from areas as disparate as India, Greece, and Egypt.
Did you Know?
Pugnatious has its roots in the Latin word for "fist," which explains why pugnacious (and its related noun, pugilist) often describes boxers.
