as in boxers
one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists
a pugilist with the trademark of the boxing ring: a nose that showed signs of having been broken on more than one occasion
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pugilists
Noun
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The singer thenducks beneath the sparring fists of boxers Xander Zayas and Emiliano Vargas.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026 -
That includes Los Angeles’ own Villa’s Tacos founder Victor Villa, as well as a real piragua (Puerto Rican shave ice dessert) vendor, boxers Xander Zayas and Emiliano Vargas, a real nail technician, barber and more.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The United Arab Emirates reportedly funded a camp in Ethiopia to train fighters of a Sudanese militia, a further sign of foreign powers stoking Sudan’s yearslong civil war.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Interim steps and broader modernization Until more B-21 bombers and F-47 fighters enter service, the study recommends several interim measures to maintain combat readiness.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There were dancing gladiators and moka pots, a phalanx of runway models dressed (in Armani) in green, white and red, to represent the Italian flag.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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Reality contestants in novels should be gladiators fighting to the death.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Pugilists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pugilists. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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