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GRE vocabulary

pugnacious

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore P words

eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight

Word origin: From Latin pugnax, combative, from pugnare, to fight.

In a sentence

Pugnacious in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing pugnacious in a sentence.

His pugnacious manner turned every discussion into a confrontation.

His pugnacious style in seminars left every claim he made buried under needless argument.

Antonyms
Usage & nuance

Using “pugnacious” well

Pugnacious describes an eagerness to fight or quarrel. It is close to belligerent and bellicose, all suggesting readiness for conflict.

Common questions

Questions about “pugnacious

Pugnacious (adjective) means eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight
Here is pugnacious used in an example sentence: "His pugnacious manner turned every discussion into a confrontation." Another example: "His pugnacious style in seminars left every claim he made buried under needless argument."
Common synonyms for pugnacious include combative, belligerent, bellicose, contentious.
Antonyms of pugnacious include peaceable, amiable, conciliatory.
On the GRE, pugnacious clusters with combative, belligerent, bellicose, and contentious, opposing peaceable, amiable, and conciliatory.
Yes. Pugnacious is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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